The Octagon House

Posted: 10.08.2019 | Updated: 02.12.2025

The Octagon House in Washington, D.C. has a fascinating floorplan and an elegant design. Its rich history and important location mark it as a location with many layers to unfold, some no doubt including unhappy spirits that linger on.

The house was once the temporary home of then-President James Madison and his wife Dolley as the White House was undergoing reconstruction due to the fire that burned a good portion of the building and Washington in general during the War of 1812.

Its name comes not, as one might think, from the number of sides to the floorplan, but the number of angles in the building. Apparently, this was more than enough to earn the moniker of being ‘octagonal’ in its day.

It sits at the intersection of 18^th Street, NW and New York Avenue. One of the many acute-angled intersections in the somewhat irregularly laid out capital.  The unusual design was to ensure the building would present faces square onto both streets and take advantage of the dramatic corner for the entrance to the building.

Take a ghost tour through Washington D.C. and dive into thrilling stories lurking in the city!

Where is the Haunted Octagon House?

The Haunted Octagon House is located in Washington D.C., just a short walk from the White House. Known for its eerie atmosphere, this historic building has been the site of numerous ghost sightings.

The spirits of former residents, including one of its early owners, have been said to linger, with reports of strange noises and unexplained happenings. If you’re looking to explore D.C.’s haunted past, the Octagon House is definitely a must-see for ghost enthusiasts!

A house of some import

The home was designed as the winter home of John Tayloe III and his family. At one point, he was considered one of the wealthiest Americans of the post-Revolutionary War era.

A Virginia native, he bore the weight of his burdens physically, with slumped shoulders and a weary expression on his face. He inherited his wealth and expanded greatly on his father’s empire.

At the outset, he planned on building a home in Philadelphia since it was closer to Baltimore and other major places of personal interest to Tayloe. As word spread of his intent to build, William Augustine Washington III, married to Tayloe’s sister Sarah, convinced John to construct the home on the outskirts of what was then Washington D.C.

Today, the home sits in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of the city. He commissioned William Thornton, who was also responsible for designing the U.S. Capitol building, to design the home for him.

Tayloe was also a relative of George Washington, who was made well aware of Tayloe’s plans to construct the home. It was Washington himself that suggested that Thornton would be responsible for the architecture of the Tayloe home.

The six-sided home, made from bricks, featured some of the most innovative designs of its time, including a closet in every room, even the kitchen. Mahogany doors complemented the rest of the house, which was built with some of the finest materials available, befitting a man of Tayloe’s means. Even today the house stands out as luxurious and refined.

Servants Behind Tayloe Wealth

The Octagon House in DC was home to John Tayloe III and his wife, formerly Ann Ogle. Ann Ogle Tayloe offered the residence as a place for the French Consulate. The Octagon haunted house was likely spared destruction, during the War of 1812, because of the tricolor flag hanging outside. The British had already burned the White House down.

After the White House was damaged, James and Dolley Madison rented the Octagon House for $500. Though John Tayloe III was a Federalist, he remained loyal during the War of 1812, serving as a Colonel. The Octagon House also hosted the signing of the Treaty of Ghent, ending the war between the U.S. and Britain.

The Octagon was also home to some of the Tayloes family servants, upon whose shoulders much of the family wealth was built. Residents included Harry and Winney Jackson, the head coachman, and lady’s maid respectively. They were separated from their daughters who were made to work at the Tayloes plantation, Mount Airy in Virginia.

In 1828, Tayloe III died while residing in The Octagon House. His wife Anne would live another 27 years before dying at the house as well in 1855. The Tayloe children would begin to rent out the house to various tenants soon after their mother’s death.

At one point, the house served as a school and the U.S. government used it throughout the 1870s before it reverted back to a private residence for families. It wasn’t until the 1890s when the American Institute of Architects would outright purchase the house in 1898.

They occupied the building as their main office until it was named a national landmark in 1960. They built a large modern office behind the Octagon House and restored the building to its original splendor.

Conversion Into Octagon Museum

Just ten years after officials named it a national landmark, the Octagon House rebranded as a museum. It wasn’t restored to its original 1815 look until at least 1990.

Since the home was a site of some of the historic events like the signing of the Treaty of Ghent, the Octagon Home was a fixture on the list of notable places for tours of Washington D.C. The museum at one point closed for six years (between 2007 to 2013). Today, the American Institute of Architects offers tours and public programming related to the Octagon House.

Reports Of Paranormal Activity

The Octagon House has a rich history and has seen several deaths within its walls.  Aside from the Tayloe family residing in the home, many important residents have come and gone through the years.

Since the home was the place where both John and Ann Tayloe breathed their last breaths, their spirits may roam around long after their deaths, making the Octagon House haunted by their lingering presence. They ring bells to summon servants who no longer attend to their desires. One location in particular that has a reputation for frequent unexplained activity was the impressive circular stairwell of the house.

Many visitors recall feeling cold spots and strange feelings as they ascended or descended the stairwell. Residents and Octagon museum staff have reported specters and paranormal activity on the second and third-floor landings, suggesting the Octagon House is haunted by restless spirits.

The Tragic Death of a Tayloe Daughter

Aside from the Tayloe’s themselves, it was said that two of their daughters may also linger to haunt the home. It was said that one of daughters of John Tayloe III died after a freak accidental fall down the three-story staircase. Some have heard deathly screams at night yet they were the only ones in the house at the time. The earliest report of this ghastly occurrence dates back to 1908.

Another famous presence said to be overstaying her welcome in the home is Dolley Madison. Though she passed away in another house in Washington D.C. in 1849, she lived in the Octagon House for much of her husband’s presidency.

Though she passed away in another house in Washington D.C., Dolley Madison is believed to haunt the Octagon House, contributing to its fame as a haunted landmark, along with other D.C. landmarks like the White House and the Cutts-Madison House, where she spent her final years.

One night, nearly a dozen men spent the night here with the intent to scare off any spirits that may have occupied the house. Later, detailed accounts of spirits in the Octagon House appeared in a local newspaper, which other publications frequently quoted throughout the 20th century when writing about the house.

Soon after the house converted into a museum, the superintendent at the time reportedly witnessed various lights flickering on and off or turning off for no apparent reason, with no one at the switch. He also claimed that some doors would open for no reason, even on nights when no wind was reported.

A House with eight lives

The Octagon House may not be one of the most recognized landmarks in Washington, D.C. But the house is definitely a place worthy of its reputation, especially if you happen to be a fan of paranormal activities and ghost stories.

This stunning house layers history and spirits that can’t seem to free themselves, so they haunt a time that is not their own, causing fear and shock over the years. The museum still offers tours regularly, so you would be well advised to seize the opportunity to experience this elegant and historic house.

Hauntings in Washington D.C.

If you’re captivated by the eerie mysteries of the haunted Octagon House, Washington, D.C. is packed with haunted locations steeped in rich history and spine-chilling drama. Hear eerie ghost stories from the Capitol Building and experience the ghostly presence of President Lincoln at the White House.

These ghost tours will uncover thrilling tales of love, betrayal, and scandal across the city.

Craving more ghostly encounters? Check out our blog for more spine-tingling stories and book your DC ghost tour today. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for regular haunting updates!

Sources:

• https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Madison
• https://www.whitehousehistory.org/slavery-at-the-octagon
• https://www.fox5dc.com/news/dc-most-haunted-house-octagon-museum-history
• https://www.nps.gov/articles/the-octagon-of-washington-d-c-the-house-that-helped-build-a-capital-teaching-with-historic-places.htm