Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
- A street map
- Good walking shoes
Step1
Start your ghost hunt at the White House (1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, in case you weren't paying attention in Civics class). Lincoln's ghost has often been reported on the premises, as have the ghosts of Dolley Madison, Andrew Jackson and Abigail Adams.
Step2
Go next door to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at 17th St. and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. This building, formerly known as the Old Executive Office Building, has seen a number of deaths, both accidental and suicide (and perhaps even murder). The spirits of these dead have been known to wander the corridors late at night and early in the morning.
Step3
See if you can spot the Demon Cat that haunts the basement of the U.S. Capitol Building. If you do see this spectral black feline, legend has it that a national disaster is soon to occur. Some versions of this legend say that DC (as he is known) appears to be a kitten when you first see him, but the closer you get, the larger and scarier he appears.
Step4
Visit Stephen Decatur at his home (now museum) at 1610 H Street, NW. Mr. Decatur was killed in a duel shortly after moving into his fine new home in the early 19th century, but he hasn't let that stop him from spending time there. Not only has Mr. Decatur's ghost been spotted on numerous occasions, but visitors to the museum have also heard unexplained weeping which some attribute to Stephen's widow, Susan.
Step5
Explore Octagon House at 1799 New York Avenue, NW, temporary home to James and Dolley Madison after the White House burned to the ground in the War of 1812. Although Dolley Madison's ghost has been spotted at times in the garden, the main hauntings are attributed to the ghosts of two sisters who jumped to their deaths from the grand winding staircase several years after the Madisons moved out.
Novice 
