The Octagon House — Washington D.C.'s most haunted historic home

The Octagon House at 1799 New York Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., is considered the most haunted private residence in the capital. Built in 1801 by Colonel John Tayloe III, the six-sided Federal-style townhouse served as the temporary White House after the British burned the Executive Mansion in 1814. President James Madison signed the Treaty of Ghent here, ending the War of 1812. The house's ghost stories center on two of Tayloe's daughters, who allegedly died after falling — or being pushed — down the oval staircase. One daughter reportedly argued with her father about marrying a British officer during the War of 1812, and she either fell or threw herself over the railing. A second daughter may have met a similar fate after defying her father on another romantic matter. The staircase remains the most active area — residents and visitors have reported seeing candles floating up the spiral staircase on their own, the smell of cooking food from the long-disused kitchen, and footsteps on floors where no one walks. The sound of a woman screaming has been heard near the base of the staircase. The house has been the headquarters of the American Institute of Architects since 1902, and office workers have contributed their own accounts of doors slamming, cold drafts, and the persistent feeling of being watched.