Ghosts of The U.S. Capitol Building

Posted: 07.31.2024 | Updated: 11.22.2024

The U.S. Capitol building stands as one of the most iconic landmarks in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. This magnificent neoclassical structure is the heart of the legislative branch of the United States government, housing both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Here, laws are debated, shaped, and passed on their way to the White House for the President’s signature as part of the Constitutional process.

However, amidst the hustle and bustle of legislative business, there are whispers of otherworldly spirits that may be influencing the process in ways we can’t fully understand. The U.S. Capitol is not just a place where history is made—it is also a place where history lingers, with reports of ghostly activity and inexplicable happenings dating back to the early years of the nation’s history.

Why is the U.S. Capitol haunted?

In this exploration, we’ll delve into the significant events that have unfolded within the Capitol’s walls and uncover the tragic tales that have given rise to stories of otherworldly activity and chilling events during some of America’s darkest times. Ready to experience Washington D.C.’s most haunted locations in person? Book a ghost tour with DC Ghosts!

The History of the U.S. Capitol

Located in the Washington, D.C. neighborhood appropriately named Capitol Hill, the U.S. Capitol building sits atop a modest mound, just 88 feet above sea level, on the eastern side of the National Mall. The building was completed in 1800 and became the new home for the United States Congress, which had previously convened in Philadelphia and New York City. Before the Capitol was constructed, Congress met in Independence Hall and Congress Hall in Philadelphia and in Federal Hall in New York City.

The Capitol’s most distinctive feature is its dome, a cast-iron structure that supports an allegorical statue named “Freedom,” which unusually faces east, away from the National Mall, toward the majority of visitors who arrive from the eastern side of the city. The Capitol has undergone numerous additions and renovations over the years, including the recent addition of a state-of-the-art visitor center beneath the building. This center houses a permanent exhibition, gift shops, access to viewing galleries of both houses, a large café, and a security screening area.

The U.S. Congress was officially established with the publication of the U.S. Constitution, and its first session was held in New York City on March 4, 1789, the same day George Washington was inaugurated as the nation’s first president. When Pierre L’Enfant was commissioned to design the capital city, he selected a site called Jenkins Hill as the location for the Capitol building. Initially, L’Enfant intended to name the building Congress House, but then-Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson proposed the name “Capitol,” inspired by the Temple of Jupiter on Capitoline Hill, one of the Seven Hills of Rome.

As the city of Washington, D.C. was being laid out, land had to be reclaimed from the surrounding swampy marshland. Thomas Jefferson held a nationwide contest for architects to submit designs for both the Capitol building and the President’s House, which would later be named the White House. Although many designs were submitted, a late entry by William Thornton was chosen by Jefferson and President George Washington.

Thornton’s design, based on the eastern side of the Louvre in Paris, earned him a place in history as the first-ever “Architect of the Capitol.” In 1793, George Washington laid the cornerstone of the Capitol building, and construction began. Sadly, Washington did not live to see the completion of the building, as he passed away in 1799, just a year before it was finished.

Over the years, the Capitol has not only housed the chambers of Congress but also served as the site of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1865 to 1935. During this period, the Court met in the Old Senate Chamber until its own building was constructed nearby. One of the most iconic features of the Capitol, the dome, was added during an expansion that began in 1850 and was completed in 1863 with the installation of the Statue of Freedom.

The building has undergone many renovations and expansions since, and today, it is a popular tourist destination, offering daily tours that educate visitors on its history and the workings of the legislative branch of the United States government.

Hauntings at the U.S. Capitol

 Throughout its history, the U.S. Capitol has been the site of tragic deaths that have given rise to numerous accounts of ghostly activity. One of the earliest and most notable deaths in the Capitol was that of John Quincy Adams, the son of the second U.S. president, John Adams. John Quincy Adams served as president himself and, after leaving the White House, continued his political career as a member of Congress.

A passionate orator, Adams suffered a stroke while delivering a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives. He was moved to the Speaker’s Room, where he later died on February 23, 1848. His presence is still felt by some who walk the halls of the Capitol.

During the Civil War, the Capitol building was used as a makeshift infirmary for Union soldiers, with over 1,000 cots placed in Statuary Hall, where 100 statues, two from each state, now line the edges of the room. It is said that several soldiers died from their injuries in the Capitol, and the spirit of one unknown Civil War soldier is rumored to still haunt the Hall of Statues. Some staffers have reported seeing the shadow of a soldier lurking among the statues, a ghostly reminder of the building’s somber history.

The Capitol has also been the scene of violent deaths, such as the murder of Kentucky Congressman William Preston Taulbee. Taulbee, who had become a lobbyist after his congressional career, was involved in a bitter feud with journalist Charles Kincaid. After Kincaid exposed Taulbee’s affair with his mistress, the former congressman relentlessly teased the smaller journalist. The conflict came to a head on the Capitol stairs when Kincaid shot Taulbee in the abdomen. Taulbee died from his wounds, and it is said that a bloodstain remains on the staircase where he was shot, with some believing that Taulbee’s spirit lingers there as well.

Another tragic event occurred during the construction of the old Supreme Court chamber when John Lenthall, a junior clerk to architect Benjamin Latrobe, mistakenly removed a wooden support, causing a large stone arch to collapse on him. As Lenthall lay dying, he is said to have cursed the Capitol and all who worked there, a curse that some believe still haunts the building.

The Mystery of the “Demon Cat”

One of the most intriguing and chilling stories associated with the U.S. Capitol is that of the “Demon Cat.” According to legend, a black cat was occasionally seen prowling the halls of the Capitol in the 19th century, and its appearance was considered an omen of disaster. The first reported sighting of the Demon Cat occurred in 1865, shortly before the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth.

The cat was seen again in 1929, just before the stock market crash that led to the Great Depression. The last known sighting of the Demon Cat was in 1963, two weeks before the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. While there have been no reported sightings since, the legend of the Demon Cat persists, a harbinger of tragedy that has become part of the Capitol’s ghostly lore.

A Grand Building at the Ghostly Heart of the Nation’s Capital

The U.S. Capitol building is not just a symbol of American democracy; it is also a place where history and the supernatural intersect. The stories of ghosts and unexplained phenomena that surround the Capitol add an eerie dimension to its already rich history. Whether or not you believe in ghosts, the Capitol is a magnificent place to visit, offering a unique glimpse into the nation’s past and the workings of its government. As you walk through its marble corridors, you might just feel the presence of the spirits that are said to roam its halls, lingering reminders of the tragedies and triumphs that have shaped the course of American history.

For those who find themselves in Washington, D.C., a visit to the Capitol is a must. Not only will you witness democracy in action, but you may also encounter some of the ghostly inhabitants who call the Capitol home. Whether you are a believer in the otherworldly or simply a lover of history, the U.S. Capitol offers an experience unlike any other, blending the past and the present in a way that is both awe-inspiring and haunting.

Check out our blog for more of the haunted tales of Washington D.C., and to see some of these locations in person, book a ghost tour with DC Ghosts!

Sources:

http://mentalfloss.com/article/50047/11-people-who-died-us-capitol