Ghost of Stephen Decatur Washington D.C.

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The Decatur House | Washington DC’s Haunted House

Easily deserving of its place on a list of important haunted spaces in Washington, D.C. is the Decatur House. Home to ghosts, grudges, misery, and death by dueling.

As well as a sordid and bloody end for the original owner, this house has had an important and vibrant history since accompanied by several restless ghosts. It is now a national historic monument and available for your event if you can stand the infestation of ghouls.

Embark on a DC ghost tour and explore the eerie tales of Decatur House and other haunting spots throughout Washington, D.C.

Who Haunts The Decatur House?

The Decatur House is haunted by the spirit of Commodore Stephen Decatur, the famous naval hero. After his tragic death in a duel with Commodore James Barron, Decatur’s restless spirit is said to roam the house, still tied to the place where he spent much of his life.

Visitors often report eerie sensations and strange occurrences, adding to the house’s haunted reputation. It’s a ghostly reminder of a bitter rivalry and a tragic chapter in American history.

A home for a naval hero

Ghost mist in hallway
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Built in 1818, the Decatur House is one of just three U.S. homes designed by architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe in the neoclassical style. Originally constructed for naval hero Commodore Stephen Decatur and his wife Susan, the house became a symbol of Decatur’s fame after his victories in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, including his capture of the British frigate HMS Macedonia.

Located across from Lafayette Square and the White House, the home also served as a residence for key political figures, including Secretaries of State Martin Van Buren, Henry Clay, and E. Livingston. In 1836, John Gadsby moved in, adding a two-story slave quarters, one of the few such remaining structures today.

After Gadsby’s death, the house was home to notable figures like VP George M. Dallas and Speaker James Lawrence Orr. During the Civil War, it served as Army offices. In 1872, explorer Edward Beale acquired the house, and later, his daughter-in-law Marie bequeathed it to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, saving the home from demolition. In 1976, the Decatur House became a U.S. National Historic Landmark.

The Stephen Decatur House today

The Decatur House is a museum these days. Located at number 748 Jackson Place, NW, on Lafayette Park. The ground floor of the elegant house is kept just as it was in the early 19th century while the upstairs floor demonstrates how it has been updated and modernized through the 20th century.

As a museum, the Decatur House contains exhibits and interpretations of the African American experience in the USA. This is because of the importance of its residents, and the strong connection with the dozens of domestic slaves who worked there, right across the road from the White House.  Among the many stories is that of Charlotte Dupuy.

In 1829 she sued her master, Henry Clay then-Secretary of State, for her freedom and the freedom of her two children. She would lose her court case, however. After a tense and unpleasant period of non-violent protest at home Clay finally freed Dupuy and her daughter in 1840, but not her son, who had to wait until 1844 to be reunited with his mother.  The anxious ghost of Charlotte Dupuy is said to still haunt the pavement outside the Decatur house awaiting the release of her son.

The grizzly end of Commodore Stephen Decatur

Commodore Stephen Decatur, the naval hero, leader of men, and the national icon still paces the Decatur house. In the early nineteenth century killing a man was as easy as disagreeing with him. The brutal tradition of Dueling was still popular among some circles.

Being popular, and in the highly lucrative and competitive US Navy, Commodore Decatur was a man with enemies. One man who had a keen interest in the early demise of Decatur was Commodore James Barron, Barron was already under court-martial. This was due to the fact that he had been ill-prepared in battle and was forced to surrender his ship, the USS Chesapeake to the British before the start of the War of 1812.

Barron was then suspended from the Navy for five years without pay and stranded in Sweden without the means to support himself.  Decatur and Barron had an open exchange of elaborate insults and Decatur enjoyed bad-mouthing Barron to anyone who would listen, unaware he was stranded. This caused a lot of bad blood between Decatur and Barron.

Barron eventually had enough of Decatur and, once he returned to America and was permitted to rejoin the navy, he challenged Decatur to a duel. The duel took place on March 22, 1820, at the Bladensburg Dueling grounds just outside the city limits, as dueling was illegal in Washington D.C. Both men chose to use pistols and Decatur was mortally wounded in the fight. He died at home the following day.

The suspect motives of the two dueling seconds

Ghost of man looking out of window
Copyright US Ghost Adventures

Commodore Stephen Decatur’s duel on March 22, 1820, was a tragedy waiting to happen. Forced to choose a second from those who disliked him, Decatur’s fate seemed sealed when the terms were set to favor Barron, including standing just eight paces apart and allowing them to aim their pistols first.

The result was fatal for Decatur, who was mortally wounded, bleeding heavily from a bullet that severed vital arteries. His friends rushed him to his Lafayette Square home, where he endured nearly twelve hours of excruciating pain before dying just past 10 p.m.

Rumors swirled that the duel had been rigged, but no one was ever held accountable. Decatur’s funeral, the largest public gathering in D.C. up to that point, saw 10,000 mourners follow the procession through the streets.

His widow, Susan, was left to mourn deeply while renting out the house and hosting Washington’s elite. Soon, eerie reports began to surface—people claimed to see Decatur’s pained face in the second-story window and even spotted him walking the halls with a pistol in hand. The sightings became so disturbing that the windows were bricked up to stop the ghostly appearances.

Who else roams the Decatur House?

With such a long and colorful history, Decatur cannot possibly be the only poor soul that haunts the Decatur House. He isn’t. Charlotte Dupuy was a slave of Henry Clay, along with her two children.

In 1829, Charlotte sued then the current Secretary of State, Henry Clay trying to gain freedom for herself and her daughter. Sadly, she lost the case, and she and her family remained enslaved for another decade before finally gaining freedom.

Residents and visitors alike have reportedly heard Charlotte Dupuy crying and walking the halls, begging for freedom for herself and her children. As one of the oldest homes in Washington, D.C. it is quite possible that there are more spirits that haunt the Decatur House.

This home saw a multitude of politicians and their families. There were most likely countless births, and probably deaths, that happened in the Decatur House.

In addition, that area of Washington, D.C. is known for being plagued by scandals and intrigue. Countless duels and fights have taken place in the area over the years. If you walk the streets, you can feel the presence of these other poor souls.

The Decatur house museum

These days the Decatur House is a museum. Museum employees have reported several unexplained noises, fleeting sightings and noises that cannot be explained.

Washington is at its most atmospheric in October. You can take full advantage of all of the museum tours and haunted walking night tours that are offered. During the day you can easily get around town and see other historical places and enjoy all of the individual areas that make up Washington, D.C.

The dense history of Lafayette Square

Many walking tours of the haunted areas of DC and the White House start out in Lafayette Square, which is also called Tragedy Square. These walking tours are a great way to learn about the violent deaths of many famous and important people over the years that have left their spirits in their wake. These tours are also a great chance to learn about the many affairs, duels, and scandals that have taken place in this historic city over the years.

Visiting Washington DC is a must-do activity. There are dozens of museums and landmarks to visit. These places are fascinating because they tell the story of American history through personal stories of pain and suffering. However, as well as it’s less seemly side it is also home to the arts and entertainment, great shops and restaurants, and many well-regarded colleges with beautiful campuses.

If you are really in the mood for being scared, you can also check out this haunted walking tour throughout the city. Washington, DC is home to many different neighborhoods, which have been around for ages, and they all have their own ghost stories and hauntings.

Learn More About The Haunted History of Washington D.C.

If you’re captivated by the eerie allure of Decatur House, Washington, D.C. is teeming with haunted spots, each rich in history and paranormal mystery. Hear chilling tales from the ghostly halls of the Capitol Building or feel the haunting presence of Commodore Stephen Decatur himself.

These enthralling ghost tours reveal spine-tingling stories of love, betrayal, and scandal that have shaped the city’s dark and mysterious past.

Craving more paranormal adventures? Explore our blog for even more chilling tales and secure your spot on a ghost tour thru D.C. today. For regular spooky updates, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok!

Sources

  • https://www.whitehousehistory.org/the-historic-decatur-house
  • https://www.britannica.com/biography/Stephen-Decatur
  • https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/naval-hero-killed-in-duel
  • https://www.whitehousehistory.org/decatur-house-african-americans

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