Photo by ekelly80

By DCist contributor Nicole Dubowitz

Many of the people who come to Washington, D.C. hope to make a spiritual connection to history and feel close to the country’s forbears. The good news is, you can and you are! Between tales of murder, betrayal, and wandering ex-presidents, D.C. is known as one of most haunted places in the United States.

Today, Capitol Hill is not only home to living vengeful politicians, but also some of their crossed-over counterparts with unfinished business. In the hallways of the Capitol building, Capitol Police, security guards, tour guides, and others have claimed to witness paranormal activities. Spirits have been both seen and heard, like those of fallen construction workers, fired architect and plaza namesake Pierre Charles L’Enfant, and former Congressional members. A black “Demon Cat” is said to prowl the building before a national tragedy occurs, and Capitol statues have been seen dancing in the rotunda later at night.

One of the earliest legislator-media battles took place inside the Capitol in 1890, when Kentucky Representative William Taulbee was confronted by reporter Charles Kincaid. After an argument over accusations Kincaid printed of Taulbee, the reporter shot and killed the congressman on a marble staircase, where the congressman’s bloodstains still remain visible. Legend has it that Taulbee’s ghost appears whenever a reporter slips on these steps. (For the best insight into the Capitol’s ghosts, read the recently released Capitol Hill Haunts by local tour guide Tim Krepp.)

Perhaps one of the questions for President Obama in the next debate should be, “Have you ever seen a ghost in the White House?” Based on D.C. ghost lore, the chances seem to be high. Abraham Lincoln, Abigail Adams, Andrew Jackson, William Henry Harrison, and Frances Cleveland are among the presidents and first ladies that have been spotted haunting White House grounds. Some encounters have been sightings of a ghost; others, spooky “presences”: bursts of cold air, footsteps in empty halls, doors closing suddenly, or raps on the window.

Out of all the presidential haunts, President Lincoln seems to frequent his old home most often: Eleanor Roosevelt sensed his presence around her on a regular basis, Winston Churchill refused to sleep in the Lincoln Bedroom after seeing the former president’s spirit inside, and Theodore Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, and Ronald Reagan’s daughter Maureen reported similar sightings.

The nearby Lafayette Square is a lovely geometric park outside the White House, adorned by trees and surrounded by regal, historic buildings. At least, one might have that impression before learning about past uses for the Square, such as a slave market, a graveyard, and a soldiers’ encampment. Also called “Tragedy Square,” the area is said to be particularly densely populated with ghosts who came to haunt the park after assassinations, duels, and deadly crimes of passion, to name a few.

Even D.C. museum-goers may get the chance to have a ghostly run-in. The National Building Museum, originally a pension-processing center for Civil War veterans, orphans, and widows, has many of its own supernatural accounts to share, such as faces seen in the swirling paint of building columns after dark.

One way to ignite your Halloween spirit and D.C. pride would be to sign up for a ghost tour. These guided evening walks will cover all the ground your teachers neglected when you first visited on your elementary school field trip, and by the end you’ll know for certain that when it comes to eerie towns, Sleepy Hollow’s got nothing on us.

Available ghost tours include:

Who: Washington Walks

What: The “original D.C. ghost tour” is held in rain or shine, and includes stops at Lafayette Park, the Decatur House, and D.C.’s #1 haunted building, the Octagon House. The cost is $15 per person, and no reservations are needed—pay in cash on site or book in advance.

Where: The tour leaves from 1799 New York Avenue NW.

When: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 7:30-9:30 p.m. until October 31

One reviewer says… “Washington Walks Haunted Ghost Tour was Excellent!!! […] Renee was a great guide in the sense that she was very excited to tell the story and she got into it as much if not more than the clients. She was very friendly and knowledgeable about each haunted sight. She was not boring as I have found a lot of tour guides to be. She was great and I definitely recommend Washington Walks.”

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Who: Natalie Zanin’s Ghost Story Tour of Washington

What: Natalie Zanin researched content for this tour while working at the Historical Society of Washington, and is now a ghost expert for the History Channel’s “Haunted Washington”, the Travel Channel, NPR, and more. The company leads walks through Lafayette Square and shares both haunted legends and recent accounts from eyewitnesses. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children and may be purchased online or from the tour guide 15 minutes before the tour. Those with military identification receive half-price admission until October 28.

Where: The tour meets at the corner of Vermont Avenue and I Street NW.

When: Fridays and Saturdays until October 28 at 8 p.m. with a special Children’s tour and scavenger hunt on Sunday, October 21 at 5 p.m., and a Wednesday, October 31st Halloween tour at 7:30 p.m.

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Who: The National Building Museum

What: The museum has a history of ghost sightings and other “strange incidents.” The tour through the museum is led by the character of Mary Surratt, a legendary D.C. ghost who became the first woman executed by the United States for her role in the conspiracy to kill President Abraham Lincoln. Tickets for museum members are $12 and $20 for non-members, and must be purchased online from the museum website.

Where: The museum is located at 401 F Street NW.

When: Saturday, October 28; Wednesday, October 31; Sunday, November 4, from 8-9 p.m.

One reviewer says… “The drama of the night, even if it was at times more than verging on fiction, got people wondering about the history of the building, the life of Mary Surratt and the truth behind ghost stories.”

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Who: Washington DC Ghost Tours

What: Washington DC Ghost Tours was started by Frankie and Kim Harris who formerly started a ghost tour company in Nashville, Tenn. They have been featured as experts on paranormal history on many network and cable television stations and in the documentary Southern Haunts. The tour focuses on Lafayette Square and the stories of hauntings at the nearby St. John’s Church, the Hay-Adams Hotel, and in the White House. Tickets are $15 for those 12 and up, $8 for children 7 to 11, and free for children 6 and under. Advance purchase is required and can be done online or over the phone at (888) 844-3999.

Where: The tour starts at the Dolley Madison House at 1520 H Street NW.

When: The 90-minute tours are nightly at starting at 8 p.m. and run through mid-November. Additional tours that have been added are Friday, October 26 at 8:30 and 9 p.m.; Saturday, October 27 at 7:30, 8:30, and 9 p.m.; and Wednesday, October 31 at 8:30 p.m.

One reviewer says… “This tour is for people who are interested in the dark history behind one of the supposedly most haunted places in America … You get a deep history (each fact is corroborated by at least three independent sources, and many of these sources can be found in the Library of Congress in the way of diaries, journals, or letters from the people involved), full of betrayal, sordid romance, insanity, suicide, duels, tragedy, and death. The tour guides are … very good story-tellers. Sometimes, touring guests catch unexplainable or interesting flashes of … something … on their cameras. Several owners who bring their dogs testify that their dogs act strangely, either more aggressively or nervously. It’s a great tour, great fun, and a very interesting learning experience if you want to know more about DC. I definitely recommend it!!”

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Who: Scary DC – Ghosts of Washington

What: This new haunted tour company covers ghost stories from several locations on Capitol Hill, including the Library of Congress, the Capitol building, the Capitol Visitors’ Center, and the Supreme Court.

Where: Tours meet at the Capitol Hill Starbucks at 237 Pennsylvania Avenue SE.

When: Upcoming tours meet at 7 and 9 p.m. through November 24, and run 60-90 minutes.