Like the fictional Revolutionary War veteran and member of the American Continental Congress, Isaac Higgintoot from CBS’s popular sitcom Ghosts, several famous Revolutionary War-era figures have supposedly refused to exit the realm of the living after their deaths. As we celebrate Halloween, it’s fascinating to consider that certain icons of the American Revolution may have not entirely left us behind—at least according to the ghost stories that linger around their former haunts.

From Mount Vernon to Monticello and the White House itself, tales of ghostly encounters with some of the nation’s most famous founders offer a chilling connection to our country’s past.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama Host Halloween 2009 at the White House

The father of our nation, George Washington, continues to inspire us long after his death—and according to some, he is still making his presence known. Visitors to Washington’s historic Mount Vernon estate have long reported strange occurrences, leading many to believe that Washington's spirit lingers on the property.

Mount Vernon—"Mount Vernon as it is"—Harper’s New Monthly Magazine 18 (Dec-May 1858-59), 440.

President Harry S. Truman (inside the gate) places a wreath at the tomb of George Washington at Mount Vernon to commemorate Washington's birthday, 1947

One popular tale involves a ghostly Washington setting off the stable alarms and then a few moments later setting off the alarms in his former bedroom, just the amount of time it would have taken him to return after securing his horse. He was also known to carry a large set of keys around the estate, and Mount Vernon’s staff tell of hearing the sound of those jangling keys coming from the same bedroom.

Stately Mount Vernon, with its rich history and connection to the man who led the Continental Army and became the first president, certainly makes a fitting haunt for such a legendary figure.

General "Mad" Anthony Wayne, known for his bold and often erratic behavior on the battlefield, earned his nickname due to his daring leadership style. However, it seems his fiery spirit didn’t relax after his death.

After Wayne died  in 1796, his remains were interred in Erie, Pennsylvania. Thirteen years later, at the request of the family, Wayne's son decided to move his body to his family plot. When the body was exhumed, his body was said to still be in remarkable condition. For easy transport, his son boiled the body down to the bones. Legend says that not all of Wayne's remains made the journey, leaving part of the general behind.

Photograph of Old St. David's, Radnor, Pennsylvania, where General Anthony Wayne is buried

Statue of Anthony Wayne, 1929

It is claimed that on Wayne's birthday, January 1, his ghost haunts the route to his final resting place, searching for his lost bones. Some say you can hear his horse, Nancy, galloping as the spirit of "Mad" Anthony rides again, determined to reunite his remains and find peace.

Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and third President of the United States, is one of our nation’s most revered figures. His spirit is said to occasionally reappear as if still absorbed in endless contemplation.

At his beloved home of Monticello, staff and visitors have reported hearing him whistling, something he was known to do as he roamed the house, deep in thought. But according to tales, his spirit isn’t relegated to just one location. It is also said that he can be heard playing the violin in the Yellow Oval Room of the White House. 

For those who believe in such things, Jefferson’s ghost may still be pondering the great ideas of liberty, democracy, and the pursuit of happiness—or possibly just enjoying a little night music.

Journey through Hallowed Ground Byway—Thomas Jefferson's Monticello

President and First Lady, Portrait Photograph. President Kennedy and Mrs. Kennedy. White House, Yellow Oval Room, 1963

Of the many ghosts reported to still reside at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Abigail Adams, wife of President John Adams and one of the most iconic women of the Revolutionary era, is thought to haunt the East Room of the executive mansion.

During the Adams administration, the White House was still under construction, and Abigail hung the family’s laundry in the large East Room to dry. People have reported seeing a ghostly figure in a cap and shawl resembling Abigail moving through the room, arms raised as if carrying a load of laundry. Some have even claimed to smell lavender and soap when she appears.

With so many spirits refusing to depart our nation’s most famous home, it appears that she is still busy managing the domestic tasks of the afterlife.

View of northeast corner of the East Room during dismantling. This is one of a series of photographs taken during the renovation of the White House, 1950

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, these tales add an eerie dimension to the history of America’s founders. 

The main principle of the National Archives is that the past is prologue, meaning history lays out the context for our present situation (paranormal or not). In that sense, some of these spirits are “closer” than we think. However, instead of haunting houses, they’re contained in one way or another within our 13,000,000,000-plus records in the National Archives stacks, boxes, and holdings.

Some staff and security guards say the historic National Archives Building is haunted. Whooo knows? Spooky.