The Capitol Building, serving as the United States Congress’s seat, stands not only as a symbol of democracy and power but also as a place shrouded in mystery and horror. Legends and eyewitness accounts claim the Capitol is haunted by the ghosts of past inhabitants, visitors, and historical events, giving it the title of the most haunted building in the world.
The Mysterious Demon Cat
Among the Capitol’s notorious entities is the Demon Cat, a ghostly feline that materializes before historic or tragic national events. The apparition is said to have left a set of paw prints outside the Old Supreme Court Chamber¹. First spotted in the early nineteenth century by a nightwatchman, attempts to shoot at the creature proved futile as it vanished before his eyes. The Demon Cat has been seen before significant events such as the assassinations of Presidents Lincoln and Kennedy, the Stock Market Crash of 1929, and the September 11 attacks. It is believed to roam the Capitol’s halls, particularly in Washington’s Crypt, where it reportedly grows to the size of a panther, terrifying those who encounter it.
The Ghost of John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams, the sixth U.S. president and a congressman from Massachusetts, left his spectral presence in the Capitol after passing away in 1848. Adams suffered a stroke during a House of Representatives debate and died two days later in the Speaker’s Lobby. Capitol employees claim to hear his voice shouting “No!” near the Speaker’s Lobby, echoing his final words during the debate. Some even report sightings of his ghost sitting at his old desk in the House chamber or wandering around the Rotunda.
Civil War Spirits
During the Civil War, the Capitol briefly served as a hospital for wounded Union soldiers. Statuary Hall, housing over 1,000 cots, became a place where many soldiers succumbed to their injuries or diseases. Their spirits are believed to linger, with staffers reporting sightings of a soldier’s shadow among the statues and hearing moaning, coughing, or footsteps. Some claim to have witnessed bloodstains on the staircase where a soldier was fatally stabbed by another patient or on the floor where a nurse committed suicide.
The Curse of John Lenthall
The Capitol witnessed a tragic accident that spawned a curse, according to legend. John Lenthall, a clerk to architect Benjamin Latrobe, inadvertently removed crucial wooden supports during the construction of the Old Supreme Court Chamber in 1807. The resulting arch collapse crushed Lenthall, who, with his dying breath, allegedly cursed the building, proclaiming perpetual unhappiness within its walls. Some believe this curse is responsible for the misfortunes and scandals that have plagued the Capitol and its occupants over the years.
The Haunting Statues
The Capitol is home to several statues of famous Americans, some of which are rumored to be haunted or cursed. The statue of John C. Calhoun, a senator from South Carolina and a supporter of slavery and secession, is said to exude an evil aura, making people feel uneasy or sick when near it. Some claim the statue’s eyes follow them around the room, and they hear whispers of threats or insults. Another haunted statue is that of William Preston Taulbee, a Kentucky congressman shot by a reporter in 1890. His statue, located in the Capitol Visitor Center, is said to bear a bullet hole in the chest and emit a mumbling sound resembling his dying words.
These stories and legends merely scratch the surface of the Capitol’s haunted history, making it the most haunted place in the District of Columbia. Regardless of your belief in the supernatural, the Capitol’s rich and captivating history is worth exploring. When visiting, remain vigilant for signs of the paranormal, and remember, you are not alone in this haunted edifice.
