Fort McNair was established in 1791 on about 28 acres of what then was called Greenleaf Point, located on the point of land where the Potomac and Anacostia rivers join in Washington, D.C. Maj. Pierre C. L'Enfant included it in his plans for the city, as a major site for the defense of the capital. The land and facilities have served time as a military base, a prison, a gallows, and a hospital. This varied history means the site is very paranormally active indeed.
The land north of the arsenal in 1826 was used for the first federal penitentiary. The conspirators accused of assassinating President Abraham Lincoln were imprisoned there, and, after being found guilty, four of the conspiritors were hanged. Among those hanged was Mary Surratt, the first woman ever executed under federal orders. A hospital was built next to the penitentiary in 1857, and Civil War wounded were treated at what then was called the Washington Arsenal. A general hospital, predecessor to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, was located at the post from 1898 until 1909.
Foreign Officers Building: Mary Surratt who was convicted for her part in the conspiracy to assassinate President Lincoln, has been seen wandering the building on base which used to house foreign officers. The reason being that the building stands on the spot where the conspirators were hanged. Allegedly, she is trying to convince guests that she is innocent of the crime for which she was hanged.
Building 21: This is the building where John Wilkes Booth was hung (even though he was already dead). He was hung in the attic of the building. he wasn't the only person to be hanged there. One of the companies carrying out renovations to this old building report: All of the tradesmen on the job start very early in the morning (when it's still dark outside). The carpenters there have reported hearing footsteps in the attic and they have had something follow very close behind him up the cellar stairs, close enough to him to cause him to RUN the rest of the stairs to the first floor. They were also working in two of the three rooms in the attic when they noticed what looked like a fly flying around in all three rooms. The only thing is that there were no flys in any of the rooms (the rooms are small and wide open, so a fly could not hide from site).
