The Octagon might not be the best-known home in Washington, D.C., but it's one of the city's oldest residences — and rumor has it that former occupants may still be haunting the halls. Take a look inside the historic site this Halloween season.

Washington

The Octagon House in Washington, D.C., completed in 1801, stands as a significant piece of American history just steps from the White House. Originally built for the prominent Taylor family and designed by William Thornton, the first architect of the U.S. Capitol, the house has served as a temporary residence for President James Madison and his wife after the White House was burned in 1814. The Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812, was signed in the home's circular office.

Beyond its historical significance, the Octagon House is also known for reports of paranormal activity, including unexplained noises, flickering lights, and security alarms. Notable visitors, such as Jackie Kennedy, have recounted eerie experiences in the home. Although currently closed for renovations, the Octagon House continues to attract interest for its architectural heritage and its role in pivotal moments of U.S. history.

Inside a historic, haunted Washington, D.C. home

In the heart of the nation's capital, just steps away from the White House, sits a little-known piece of Washington's early history. This is it. Yes, welcome to the Octagon. The Octagon is a more than 200-year-old house completed in 1801. It served as a second home for the prominent Taylor family of Virginia, who were friends of George Washington. Amanda Ferrario manages the historic building. But where does the Octagon name come from? So the Octagon name comes from this room that we're standing in right now. In order to build a circular room, you make the structure out of an octagonal shape and then build it in with various building materials to get this nice, smooth circle. The house was designed by William Thornton, who served as the first architect of the U.S. Capitol. Its architecture provides a glimpse into the home's storied past, one that includes the plight of the enslaved people who worked and lived in the home's basement, mostly out of sight of the wealthy occupants. This is the absolute epicenter of all of the activity, not only for the enslaved who would live and work here, they were sleeping here, they were working here around the clock. Perhaps the home's most notable residents were President James Madison and his wife, Dolly Madison, who temporarily moved in after the British burned down the White House in 1814. How much was the rent? I think it was about $6,000 for six months. That's a lot back then. I mean, it's a steal today. Dolly Madison hosted tightly packed social events, which became known as squeezes on the first floor. This is also where- And right here in the circular office, President Madison signed the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812. This is the table where he signed the treaty. But long after the historic moments in high society social events of Washington's past, some guests have reported eerie experiences. Doors opening unprompted, lights flickering without anyone touching a switch, and security alarms going off without explanation. During the 1990s restoration, this room picked up a lot of activity. The windows and doors, the closets were open, and this is the room where the footsteps were in the freshly oiled floors. Before she was First Lady, Jackie Kennedy, then known as Jackie Bouvier, visited the home when she worked for a local newspaper. As the story goes, she had her own haunting experience during her visit. She wrote in her memoirs about standing exactly where you are right now and having this overwhelming presence and smell of lilac. And she equated it to a former First Lady looking over the shoulder of a future First Lady. Wow, that's spooky. Although it's currently closed for renovations, the home usually draws visitors to the nation's capital looking to get a glimpse of history and perhaps experience a paranormal site for themselves. It was very much about the history. Jennifer Calvert-Hall is the Executive Director of the Architects Foundation, which oversees the historic building and its visitors. The people who founded the United States of America were interested in very progressive ideas and that those progressive ideas were reflected in its architecture. I want them to feel that. This little-known home providing a rich glimpse into American history.

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