They say DC is full of ghosts. After all, it is a city full of history so it would make sense there is a ghost or two floating around. However, if you want to visit the most haunted and creepy location, you need to visit the Octagon Museum. It is the home of the most well known and terrifying ghost story in DC.
The building is a historic home in Foggy Bottom neighborhood. The house was built in the 1700s by Colonel John Tayloe III.
The house is known for its unique architecture. While it’s called the "The Octagon," it actually only has six sides. But the house is just as well known for its ghostly history as its architecture.
The hauntings of The Octagon Museum revolves around Colonel Tayloe’s daughters. In the first story, one of Colonel Tayloe’s daughter fell in love with a British soldier. Her father confronted her about this affair.
The two reportedly fought on the second floor landing and when the girl turned in anger, she fell over the railing and died at the bottom of the stairs. The stories claim that you can sometimes see her crumpled body at the bottom of the steps.
The second haunting involves Colonel Tayloe’s other daughter who was in love with another man. When her father forbade her to see the man, she reportedly jumped to her death from the third floor landing.
The stories say that employees and guests have heard girls screaming, footsteps running down the stairs, ghostly shapes on the landing , bells ringing and crying late in the evening.
Today, you can visit the museum, not just for the ghost stories but for the history. The house is rich with history of the Tayloes, the Madisons and life during the early 1800s.
If you dare to visit the Octagon Museum, you can visit Thursday-Saturday from 1-4pm. Admission is free. The Octagon is located at 1799 New York Avenue NW.
