Self-Guided Visit
Old Stone House Self-Guided Visit
Walk through DC's oldest unaltered building and its rear garden, with NPS interpretive signage covering the Layman, Chew, and post-occupancy eras.
- Duration:
- 30 min
Haunted House / Historic Home
Old Stone House
Pre-Revolutionary 1765 stone house in Georgetown — the oldest building on its original foundation in DC — said to host more than a dozen apparitions, including a third-floor entity called 'George.'
3051 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Free admission as part of Rock Creek Park; donations welcomed.
Access
Limited Access
Narrow colonial stairs and uneven floors; rear garden and ground floor are partially accessible.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1765 · Oldest unaltered building in Washington, D.C. on its original foundation · Rare survival of pre-Revolutionary domestic architecture in DC · National Park Service unit of Rock Creek Park since 1953 · Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
The Old Stone House on M Street NW is widely considered the oldest building in Washington, D.C., still on its original foundation. Construction began in 1765 by Christopher Layman, a Pennsylvania cabinetmaker who built the small two-story stone house as both a residence and workshop for himself and his wife Rachel. Layman died only a few years after construction, and the property was sold to Cassandra Chew, a widow who expanded the building with a third story and rear additions.
Throughout the late 18th and 19th centuries, the house passed through a succession of owners and was used at various times as a private residence, a clockmaker's shop, a tavern, a painter's studio, and a used-car business. It survived demolition pressure in part because of a persistent folk belief that George Washington had stayed there with city planner Pierre L'Enfant during his surveying work. Subsequent research showed Washington had actually stayed at Suter's Tavern, a different Georgetown establishment.
In 1953 the federal government acquired the building, and the National Park Service restored it as part of Rock Creek Park. After extensive structural and interpretive work, the Old Stone House opened to the public in 1960. Today it operates as a free NPS site, with first-floor and second-floor period rooms interpreting Georgetown's pre-Revolutionary commercial and domestic life, and a rear English-style garden that serves as a quiet contrast to busy M Street.
The building has appeared on the National Register of Historic Places since 1973 and is considered one of the most architecturally significant survivals of pre-Federal Georgetown.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Stone_House_(Washington,_D.C.)
- https://www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/old-stone-house-visitor-center.htm
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reportedly_haunted_locations_in_Washington,_D.C.
Cold spots and choking sensation on the third floorTactile contact — pushing or shoving — reported by visitorsApparition of a woman in colonial dress by the fireplaceDisembodied children's laughterFootsteps on the staircase when alone
Hauntings reported at the Old Stone House are unusually plural for a small structure. According to DC Ghosts and Washingtonian reporting, accounts collected from past residents, NPS staff, and visitors describe more than a dozen distinct presences. The most commonly cited include a woman in a brown colonial dress seen near the kitchen fireplace, a heavy-set woman frequently encountered on the staircase, an 18th-century-dressed man on the second floor, the laughter of unseen children, and a young boy nicknamed 'Joey' who is described as gentle and curious.
The most notorious presence is a third-floor entity referred to only as 'George' — not George Washington, despite the long-running myth. Multiple sources (DC Ghosts; WTOP; Washingtonian; Haunted in America) describe him as a malevolent male figure associated with cold spots, a heavy choking sensation, and reports of being pushed or shoved, predominantly by women visitors. NPS staff have historically declined to comment officially on the paranormal claims, but the third-floor room has been variously closed and reopened to visitors over the decades.
Georgetown ghost-tour operators frame the Old Stone House as their flagship stop and consistently rank it as the city's oldest and most active haunted location. The plural, layered character of the lore — colonial residents, children, and a single threatening male entity — is unusual enough that it features regularly in regional folklore writing.
Notable Entities
'George' (third-floor entity)'Joey' (boy)Colonial-era woman in brownHeavy-set woman on the staircase
Plan Your Visit
1 way to experienceSources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Old Stone House family-friendly?
Daytime NPS site is family-friendly. Older third-floor lore involving a hostile male entity who targets women may be unsettling — keep visits to lower floors with sensitive kids. Overall family fit: Moderate.
How much does it cost to visit Old Stone House?
Free admission as part of Rock Creek Park; donations welcomed. This location is free to visit.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Old Stone House wheelchair accessible?
Old Stone House has limited wheelchair accessibility. Terrain: Narrow colonial stairs and uneven floors; rear garden and ground floor are partially accessible..