Washington D.C.
The main building is really a beautiful
structure, being built with Virginia sandstone, which is painted white.
The wings of the Capitol Building are made of Mass. marble. Corinthian
Columns support the front and side Porticoes. Inside, one can see tile
and mosaic floors, sweeping staircases, several hundred pieces of sculpture
and paintings of historic events and the people who were involved in America's
history. One can get a tour by contacting their U.S. representative in
the Congress or Senate, and get a pass for the desired day.
At least 15 ghosts haunt the Capitol
Building. 10 of these restless entities are listed below.
1) The French engineer, Pierre Charles
L'Enfant, was commissioned by President Washington to design the new
capitol city, which included streets that were 100 feet wide, and an
avenue which was 400 feet wide and a mile long, but unfortunately went
a bit too far and demolished a new manor house because it blocked the
view. Washington fired L'Enfant, and Congress refused to pay him for
the work that was already done. Consequently, the apparition of Monsieur
Pierre Charles L'Enfant has been seen pacing the cavernous Capitol basement,
still awaiting payment for his bill, now over 200 years delinquent
This ghost is described as a "sad
little man", dressed in 18th century attire, who scurries along
the corridors of the Capitol Building with many papers stuffed under
his arm, which were probably his city plans. It has been reported that
whenever a street change is proposed, his ghost moans and cries as he
hurries along the corridors.
2) The glowing ghost of John Quincy
Adams has been seen in the grand hall that was formerly the House of
Representatives Chamber, at the exact spot where his desk used to be
located. He collapsed at his desk and died in a room off this grand
hall, before he could give a speech honoring the military leaders responsible
for the victory in the Mexican-American War, a conflict that Adams had
been against from the beginning.
3) Abram Garfield, who was killed
after being in Office for only 4 months, has been seen in the halls
of the Capitol Building.
4) His Assassin was seen on a stairway
in the Capitol Building.
5) Henry Wilson's Vice-presidential
term was cut short when he died of pneumonia, which he caught while
taking a bath in facilities that were formerly in the basement. His
apparition has been seen in the Senate Wing, and has been heard sneezing
and coughing by guards outside the Vice-president's office, when no
one seen was there.
Also, in the doorway of the V.P.'s
office, it has been reported that the smell of old-fashioned bath soap
was noticed, and a deep chill could be felt.
6) The easily recognized ghostly
apparition of General John Alexander has been known to appear at 12:30
AM, looking displeased, while listening at the door of the room once
used by the Senate Committee on Military and Militia, a committee that
he once chaired in the 1890's. He is described as having a long mustache,
with dark, piercing eyes, and long black hair.
General John Alexander's apparition
also likes to poke around a basement storage room, perhaps looking for
his stuffed horse that by mistake was put into storage.
7) A ghost of a custodian, who died
at work, has been known to help the living employees do their job. A
mop was seen swishing back and forth over the marble floors, being pushed
by this unseen entity.
8) During the middle to late 1800's,
the Library of Congress was located in the Capitol Building. A Mr. Twine
was a truly dedicated worker and can still be heard by the guards, stamping
away in his office.
9) A coworker of Twine's died of
a stroke after putting $6,000 dollars of government bonds in a rarely
used library book, because he didn't trust the banks. He can be heard
opening up books, and flipping through their pages, looking for his
retirement money. No such bonds were ever found by the living.
10 ) A demon cat appears and scares
late night workers who have to go to the deep, dark parts of the basement
of the Capitol Building. These frightening appearances usually take
place before a national tragedy happens and when administrations change.
This account was reported by a guard and others. It is first seen as
a normal, black cat, which purrs happily as it approaches the unsuspecting
human victim in the dimly lit hallway. As this cat apparition comes
closer, though, its body swells to the size of a tiger, and the sweet
purring turns into a vicious snarl. With its claws extended, this huge
cat leaps at the human contact, and then vanishes into thin air, leaving
the human being terrified, but unhurt.
Many years ago, when the Capitol Building
was infested with mice, cats were let go in the basement to take care
of the problem. All the cats were then caught and given to good homes.
However, maybe one cat was left behind. Oops! Sorry kitty.
Definitely yes.
Many witnesses interviewed for various
ghost specials seen on cable stations have experienced the above manifestations.
