President’s Park, a.k.a. Lafayette Square, is said to be haunted by Philip Barton Key II, son of Francis Scott Key. As legend has it, in 1958 Philip Key had an affair with the wife of one of his friends, Daniel Sickles. In his rage, Sickles shot Key, who was unarmed, three times. Key died in the nearby Benjamin Ogle Tayloe House; his ghost is said to walk in the square near where he was shot on dark nights.
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Geographic Information
- Address:
- Lafayette Square
Washington, DC
United States
Get Directions » - GPS:
- 38.8955187, -77.03653529999997
- Nearest Towns:
- Washington, D. C., DC (0.0 mi.)
Arlington, VA (3.8 mi.)
Mount Rainier, MD (5.0 mi.)
Claremont, VA (5.2 mi.)
Chillum, MD (5.3 mi.)
Brentwood, MD (5.4 mi.)
Queenstown, MD (5.4 mi.)
Friendship Village, MD (5.4 mi.)
Friendship Village, MD (5.5 mi.)
Colmar Manor, MD (5.5 mi.)
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I had a strange experience there years ago. I was walking around in the park, looking at the white house, when I smelled the distinct smell of cigars. It was a very strong smell and unusual because it was late night in the winter. Who would walk around smoking cigars at this hour? I looked around, thinking I would see the smoker. But, I was all alone. There wasn’t anyone around. I keep wondering who that phantom smoker was. Any ideas?