Ye College Inn — Howard the ghost of Seattle's University District

Ye College Inn in Seattle's University District, located near the University of Washington campus, is said to be haunted by a ghost known simply as 'Howard.' The inn, built in the early 20th century to serve visitors to the university, has a long history as a budget hotel and boarding house. Howard's identity is uncertain — some accounts describe him as a former long-term resident who died in the building, while others suggest he may have been a transient or a student. His ghost is primarily associated with the upper floors, where guests have reported hearing heavy footsteps in the hallway, the sound of someone coughing or clearing their throat in empty rooms, and the persistent feeling of being watched while trying to sleep. Some guests have described waking to find their door ajar despite locking it before bed, and others have reported seeing a shadowy male figure standing in the corner of their room. The building's proximity to the university campus and its history of housing a revolving cast of temporary residents — students, traveling academics, and transients — means that the identity of any ghost is difficult to pin down. Howard has become something of a beloved figure in University District folklore.