The Haunted Smithsonian Castle
Washington, D.C., is a historic city steeped in ghosts, mysteries, and intrigue. It serves as the capital of our nation and a place where the past lingers. Throughout Washington, D.C., haunted locations bear witness to the tragedies of bygone eras. Many buildings date back to colonial times, with the souls of those turbulent years still lingering. One iconic cultural institution stands out in this haunted city—the Smithsonian Castle.
Who haunts the Smithsonian Castle haunted?
It’s believed that several spirits inhabit the castle, with the most notable being the person the castle is named for. Read on to unveil the mysteries of the Smithsonian Castle, and to see some of Washington D.C.’s most haunted locations in person, book a ghost tour with DC Ghosts!
History of the Smithsonian Castle
The Smithsonian Castle, the first building of the Smithsonian Institution, was designed by the renowned architect James Renwick, Jr. Known for his work on St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City and the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C., Renwick was a meticulous and driven architect. His design for the Castle was chosen unanimously from a nationwide competition in 1846. A model of Renwick’s winning design still resides in the Castle today. Despite his success, Renwick’s collaboration with Robert Mills on the Castle’s interior design was fraught with tension, reflecting the challenges of such a grand project.
Originally, the Castle was meant to be constructed from white marble, then yellow sandstone, but ultimately, Seneca red sandstone from a quarry in Montgomery County, Maryland, was selected. This decision was driven by cost-effectiveness, though the stone itself carries a darker history—it was hewn by enslaved laborers, embedding a legacy of suffering into the very walls of the Castle.
Construction began in 1847 under the direction of general contractor Gilbert Cameron. By 1849, the East Wing was completed and became the residence of the Smithsonian’s first Secretary, Professor Joseph Henry, a pioneer in electromagnetism and a visionary who laid the groundwork for the National Weather Service.
However, the Castle’s construction was not without setbacks. In 1850, a structural collapse of the West Wing raised concerns about the workmanship, leading to the adoption of modern fireproof construction methods. The exterior of the Castle was completed in 1852, after which Renwick stepped back from the project, leaving Cameron to complete the interior by 1855.
Despite the fireproof measures, tragedy struck in 1865 when a fire ravaged the upper floor, destroying invaluable collections, including James Smithson’s correspondence, oil paintings of American Indians by John Mix Stanley, and public libraries seized during the Civil War. The Castle was rebuilt by Adolf Cluss, a Washington architect known for his use of red brick and dubbed the “Red Architect.” Cluss, who suffered personal tragedies, infused the renovation with a somber, gothic character, adding further to the building’s haunted atmosphere.
James Smithson’s Haunting Legacy
The most notable ghost said to haunt the Smithsonian Castle is its namesake, James Smithson, an aristocratic English scientist who never set foot in America during his lifetime. Smithson’s fortune, left to establish the Smithsonian Institution, ensured his legacy, though he could never witness the building that bears his name. His remains were brought to the United States in 1904 and interred within the Castle, and his spirit is said to roam the halls, seen so often that his casket was exhumed in 1973 to confirm the presence of his skeleton.
Other Spirits of the Castle
Smithson is not the only ghost haunting the Castle. The first curator, Spencer Fullerton Baird, is another spectral presence. The Castle’s night watchmen frequently reported sightings of Baird’s ghost, which would vanish upon approach. Paleontologist Fielding B. Meek, another resident spirit, lived in the Castle with his cat in a set of modest rooms beneath a grand staircase.
Known for his eccentricity and mournful demeanor, Meek passed away in the Castle, his cat by his side, and continues to wander the halls, perhaps still seeking the scientific camaraderie he cherished in life.
James Henry, the first Secretary of the Smithsonian, is also said to appear in the Castle, dressed in his period attire of a frock coat and cravat. Security guards have often seen his ghostly figure roaming the corridors, only for him to vanish when approached.
Washington, D.C.: A City of Spirits and Secrets
No visit to Washington, D.C., is complete without exploring its ghostly past, and the Smithsonian Castle is just one of many haunted sites in this city built on a swamp. The city’s historic buildings and neighborhoods are filled with tales of passion, scandal, and unfinished business, making it a place where the spirits of the past still walk among the living. Many ghost tours start in Lafayette Square, also known as Tragedy Square, offering a glimpse into the lives and deaths that have left lasting marks on the city.
Washington, D.C., is a city where history and the otherworldly intertwine, making it a fascinating destination for those intrigued by the past and the spirits that linger within it. Check out our blog for more haunted tales of Washington D.C., and to see some of these places in person, book a ghost tour with DC Ghosts!
Sources:
https://seeksghosts.blogspot.com/2014/04/haunted-smithsonian-castle.html
https://siarchives.si.edu/blog/spooks-and-spirits-stories-smithsonian-3
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/29104/hidden-haunted-history-7-american-landmarks
https://siarchives.si.edu/history/joseph-henry
https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/factsheets/facts-about-smithsonian-institution-short
