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Haunted Halls of Congress: 5 Creepy Capitol Legends

Given that the United States Capitol was once expected to be the final resting place for George Washington, replete with a crypt, should we be surprised that multiple Capitol-related ghost stories exist? Discover the myths, mysteries and folklore of this historic American building.
By Erin Courtney | Updated October 31, 2022
        
                  Image
    The moon and a statue of a person.

Working on Capitol Hill you hear your fair share of myths, mysteries and folklore about the historic buildings and its previous (we think) inhabitants. Given that the Capitol was once expected to be the final resting place for George Washington, replete with a crypt, should we be surprised that multiple Capitol-related ghost stories exist?

Here are five of the creepiest legends about the Capitol Building.

**Demon cat terrorizes Capitol employees in the building at night.**

	A ghost cat that supposedly haunts the Capitol Building, appears before historic or tragic national events and has even left a set of paw prints outside of the Old Supreme Court Chamber. While the paw prints are indeed in the floor near the entrance of the chamber, they are more likely from cats once used to kill vermin at the Capitol rather than a demon.
	**Wounded Civil War soldier wanders through Statuary Hall.**

	In 1862, the military briefly converted the U.S. Capitol into a hospital for wounded Union soldiers. More than 1,000 cots were placed in Statuary Hall before patients were removed later that year. According to legend, at least one soldier never left the building. Over the years, staffers have claimed they have seen the shadow of a soldier among the statues.
	**John Lenthall, clerk to architect Benjamin Latrobe, cursed the building with his dying breath.**

	Lenthall was working on what is today referred to as the Old Supreme Court when he mistakenly removed wooden supports during construction of the space. An arch in the room collapsed and killed him. Folklore proclaims that as Lenthall lay dying he cursed the building before ultimately expiring.
	**The voice of John Quincy Adams can be heard shouting "No!" near the Speakers Lobby.**

	During a debate on the floor of the House of Representatives, Adams loudly voted "no" on a resolution then promptly collapsed at his desk. He was moved to the Speakers' Lobby where he fell into a coma and died two days later. Some Capitol employees claim to hear someone shouting "no" late at night.
	**A moaning William Preston Taulbee, who was shot by a reporter for *The Louisville Times*, is occasionally heard mumbling in a Capitol stairwell.**

	In 1887, Taulbee's career ended after a correspondent for *The Louisville Times* wrote an article alleging an affair. Over the next two years the former member, who now worked as a lobbyist, and the reporter bumped into each other. Often, Taulbee would tease the reporter, a much smaller man. By 1890, the reporter had enough of the harassment and shot Taulbee on the stairs. He died 11 days later. A stain on the stairs in the Capitol building is often attributed to the former congressman's blood.Haunted Halls: Creepy Capitol LegendsMore to Tell

While these five oft-repeated tales around Capitol Hill are the creepiest to us, they are certainly not the only ghost stories to infest the halls of Congress. As darkness falls this Halloween we hope your imaginations run wild!

Comment below with your creepiest Capitol Hill story. Over the course of the next couple of weeks, be sure to vote for your favorite creepiest story on the Architect of the Capitol's social media accounts.

---*Editor's Note:
The votes are in! See the results below.*

Which of these creepy Capitol legends is your favorite? Read them all: https://t.co/6xUYoUnHhW
— Architect of the Capitol (@uscapitol) October 31, 2016
THIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED October 21, 2016
Comments
    
  
    
KelleyAFinn  (... (not verified)PermalinkOctober 25, 2016 - 9:54amI love Halloween thanks for the interesting article
ReplyConnie Miller ... (not verified)PermalinkDecember 23, 2016 - 12:42amI was in Washington DC for the first time this past Sept. 2016. I'm looking forward to a return visit in 2017. I love the place, you have very kind people and a ton of rich history!  I want to visit the haunted halls!
ReplyDavid Linn (no... (not verified)PermalinkOctober 16, 2017 - 11:33amA former tour guide told me she was alone in the Old Senate Chamber in the early 1980s and one of the books on the desks opened._x000D_ _x000D_ Thank you for the interesting article!_x000D_ _x000D_
ReplyBrenda Conway,... (not verified)PermalinkOctober 15, 2018 - 7:35amEnjoyable read while riding the commuter bus into work._x000D_ _x000D_ Thank you!
ReplyMichael Lilly ... (not verified)PermalinkOctober 23, 2018 - 11:08amJust maybe these events happened along with many more.  Thank You for relating these.
ReplyMary Garofalo (not verified)PermalinkAugust 15, 2020 - 12:19pmDuring the late 1980s and early 1990s, I worked for House Defense Subcommittee on Appropriations.  When Hearings or bills were submitted for the House floor, we would be working long hours - 18 hours a day.  We also worked closely with the Senate Defense Subcommittee (Appropriations).  This job required very high security clearances, so the staff would have to hand-deliver documents to the Senate side.  Quite a few times, I would courier documents, alone, in the wee hours of the morning, walking the hallways in low lighting.  In fact, some of the rooms of the Capitol had no lighting on at all.  That was eerie in of itself!  However, as I would walk to and from the House and Senate sides, I would hear as if someone was walking behind me.  I would stop thinking it was one of my colleagues or Capitol Police officer, yet, the footsteps would continue for a few seconds more, then stop.  When I would look behind me, no one was there.  This happened on many occasions!
ReplyJohn H.Coker (not verified)PermalinkMarch 12, 2022 - 8:20pmAnyone hear of the ghost cat in the Catafalque store room? The Catafalque is the wooden stand that presidents and other dignitaries lie in state. It is very old, dating to Lincoln's time. Allegedly the howl of  cat is heard from the room. Watchmen who have opened to door to investigate are confronted by a pair of cat's eyes glowing in the dark!
ReplyJordan Ako-Mbo (not verified)PermalinkApril 27, 2023 - 10:52amVery inteersting
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