Guided Tour
Free Capitol Tour
Free guided weekday tour of the Tennessee State Capitol; includes the chambers and the exterior vaults where architect William Strickland and commission chairman Samuel Morgan are interred.
- Duration:
- 1 hr
Museum / Historical Site
Tennessee State Capitol
Greek Revival capitol designed by William Strickland (1845–1859), where Strickland and building commissioner Samuel Morgan are interred in opposing walls — and where their ghostly quarrel is reportedly still heard around 9 p.m.
600 Dr. M.L.K. Jr Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37243
Wheelchair Accessible
Research-Backed · 3 sources
Research updated May 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Free to enter; security screening at public entry. Free guided tours offered on weekdays.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Hilltop site with significant exterior grade; accessible entrance and elevator access inside. Outdoor grounds include stairs and slopes.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1845 · National Historic Landmark · Greek Revival civic architecture by William Strickland · Interment site of architect Strickland (1854) and commission chairman Samuel D. Morgan (1880) · Burial site of President James K. Polk and First Lady Sarah Childress Polk on the grounds · Continuously occupied state capitol since 1855
William Strickland, a leading American Greek Revival architect, was hired to design the new Tennessee capitol and relocated from Philadelphia to oversee its construction. The cornerstone of the building was laid on July 4, 1845, and the final stone was placed on July 21, 1855, after roughly a decade of construction on Cedar Knob — the prominent limestone hill above downtown Nashville.
Throughout construction, Strickland and the chairman of the state's building commission, Samuel Dold Morgan, were at sustained odds over costs, design decisions, and pace of work. Strickland died on April 7, 1854, before construction was finished. By legislative direction his remains were interred within the building itself — in a vault in the northeast corner of the structure, accessible through the limestone walls.
When Morgan died on June 10, 1880, his remains were interred in the corresponding southeast corner vault of the same building, so that the two men who had feuded throughout construction would remain on opposite sides of the Capitol in death. Two other interments — President James K. Polk and his wife Sarah Childress Polk — are located on the Capitol grounds in a tomb beside the building.
The Capitol was occupied by Union forces during the Civil War and survived without significant damage. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1971 and continues to house the Tennessee General Assembly, the offices of the governor, and other state functions.
Sources
- https://www.nashvillescene.com/arts_culture/coverstory/bodies-buried-tennessee-capitol/article_cc85e284-69aa-406d-ab9a-a2088c17f358.html
- https://www.wkrn.com/special-reports/haunted-tennessee/creepy-tales-from-tennessees-capitol-read-on-if-you-dare/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee_State_Capitol
Audible quarrel between two male voices around 9 p.m. along the building exteriorConfederate guard apparition near the flagpoleKneeling figure resembling President Polk at the Polk tomb on the groundsWoman in antebellum evening wear seen walking the cupola tower
Nashville Ghosts and Ghost City Tours both center their Capitol coverage on the Strickland-Morgan story. Per the lore: architect William Strickland and building-commission chairman Samuel Morgan 'disliked each other severely, and would often be seen screaming … back and forth' throughout the nine-year construction. After Strickland's 1854 death and Morgan's 1880 death, both were interred in the limestone vaults of the building — Strickland in the northeast corner, Morgan in the southeast, deliberately placed on opposing sides of the structure.
Local lore holds that their feud continued in death. 'One of the best-known ghost stories of the Capitol' is the clearly audible quarrel between the two, typically reported beginning around 9 p.m. when the wind is right. Nashville-area police have reportedly been dispatched to investigate the noise and 'overhear the bickering themselves,' only to find the building empty when they enter.
Secondary reports collected by Ghost City Tours and Nashville Ghosts include: a Confederate guard apparition said to have been shot defending the flagpole and now seen pacing the exterior; a figure resembling President James K. Polk reported kneeling at the Polk tomb on the grounds (Polk's remains, along with First Lady Sarah Childress Polk's, are interred there); and a woman in antebellum evening wear seen walking the cupola tower late at night.
Notable Entities
William Strickland (architect, d. 1854 — interred northeast vault)Samuel Dold Morgan (building commissioner, d. 1880 — interred southeast vault)Unnamed Confederate guardApparition resembling James K. Polk
Media Appearances
- Nashville Scene cover story — 'The Four Bodies Buried at the Tennessee Capitol'
- WKRN Haunted Tennessee — Creepy Tales from the Capitol
- Ghost City Tours and Nashville Ghosts — Capitol features
Plan Your Visit
2 ways to experience Walking Tour Booking Required
Nashville Ghost Tour stop
Walking ghost-tour operators in Nashville include the Capitol grounds as a regular nighttime stop to hear the Strickland-Morgan story at the building's exterior.
- Duration:
- 1.5 hr
Sources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
Similar Destinations
Museum / Historical Site
Carnton
Franklin, TN
Carnton, built in 1826 in Franklin, Tennessee, served as the largest temporary Confederate field hospital after the November 30, 1864, Battle of Franklin. Approximately 300 wounded soldiers were treated inside the house in a single night, and four Confederate generals' bodies were laid out on the back porch the following morning. Carrie and John McGavock later donated land for the McGavock Confederate Cemetery on the property — the largest privately owned military cemetery in the United States.
$$ All Ages
Family: Moderate
Museum / Historical Site
Blount Mansion
Knoxville, TN
Blount Mansion was built around 1792 as the home of William Blount, the only territorial governor of the Southwest Territory. Often considered Knoxville's first non-log dwelling, the frame house served as Blount's governor's residence and is the site where Tennessee's first state constitution was drafted. The Blount Mansion Association has maintained the property as a museum since 1925, and the site is a National Historic Landmark.
$ All Ages
Family: High
Museum / Historical Site
Craighead-Jackson House
Knoxville, TN
Built in 1818 by Knoxville alderman John Craighead, the Craighead-Jackson House is a two-story Federal-style brick residence on State Street in downtown Knoxville. The Jackson family owned the home from the late 1850s until about 1885. The Blount Mansion Association acquired the property in 1962, and it is now operated as part of the adjacent Blount Mansion historic site.
$ All Ages
Family: High
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tennessee State Capitol family-friendly?
An active state capitol with educational tours; the haunted lore is historical and folkloric rather than confrontational. Outdoor approach involves steep grounds. Overall family fit: High.
How much does it cost to visit Tennessee State Capitol?
Free to enter; security screening at public entry. Free guided tours offered on weekdays. This location is free to visit.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Tennessee State Capitol wheelchair accessible?
Yes, Tennessee State Capitol is wheelchair accessible. Terrain: Hilltop site with significant exterior grade; accessible entrance and elevator access inside. Outdoor grounds include stairs and slopes..