Maryland State House

The oldest state capitol building still in continuous legislative use, haunted by the ghost of a plasterer who fell to his death while working on the dome.

The Maryland State House, completed in 1779, holds the distinction of being the oldest state capitol building still in continuous legislative use in the United States. This Georgian masterpiece, designed by architect Joseph Horatio Anderson, also served as the nation's capitol from November 26, 1783 to August 13, 1784, making it the only state house ever to serve as America's capitol. Within its historic Old Senate Chamber, General George Washington appeared before Congress on December 23, 1783 to resign his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, establishing civilian authority over the military and laying the foundation for American democracy. Less than a month later, on January 14, 1784, the Treaty of Paris was ratified in this same chamber, officially ending the Revolutionary War.

The building's iconic wooden dome, designed by London-trained architect Joseph Clark, rises 121 feet from base to weather vane and holds the distinction of being the largest wooden dome in the United States constructed without nails. Instead, timber from Maryland's Eastern Shore is held together by wooden pegs and wrought-iron straps. A 28-foot lightning rod atop the dome was constructed according to specifications designed by Benjamin Franklin himself. The dome's exterior was completed in 1788, while interior plastering work continued until 1797.

The Maryland State House's most famous ghost is Thomas Dance, an English plasterer whose tragic death in 1793 gave rise to two centuries of supernatural encounters. According to the Annapolis Maryland Gazette of February 28, 1793: "On Saturday last, Mr. Thomas Dance, of this city, plasterer, being at work on the inside of the dome of the State House, and making a false step, fell nearly 100 feet to the floor and died a few hours afterward." The fall from the scaffolding 94 feet above the marble floor killed him within hours.

What makes Dance's haunting particularly poignant is the injustice that followed his death. Dance left behind a widow and several children without any means of income. His employer cruelly refused to pay the owed wages, stating that "Dance was dead, and dead men don't get paid." The employer also refused to return Dance's tools to the widow so they could be sold. Left destitute, the family was reportedly deported to England. Townspeople believe Dance's spirit has an ax to grind, returning to the building where he died and was cheated.

Sightings of Dance's apparition have been reported for over two centuries. He appears dressed in colonial garb, prowling the balconies of the building. Perhaps the most consistently told tale involves someone seen walking the balustrade inside the dome after hours, and even walking outside the dome near the lightning rod at night. Annapolis locals share lore of a ghostly figure occasionally spotted high in the dome, and some have captured a blurry photograph of a man in a tricorn hat leaning on the balcony railing.

Beyond Dance, the Old Senate Chamber where Washington resigned is said to harbor its own unknown presence. One of the most famous spirits believed to linger here is Thomas Stone, one of Maryland's four signers of the Declaration of Independence, who died in 1787. His presence is most strongly felt around the anniversary of Washington's resignation, December 23rd. Legislators, aides, and security officers have reported "rushing winds" and blasts of cold air surfacing in the chamber when all doors are sealed shut. Disembodied voices echo particularly in this historic room, water pitchers have toppled over on their own, and furniture has been observed moving without any human assistance.

Perhaps the most chilling tale is that of the Lady in Black, a veiled woman often reported walking silently through the building's lower level. Dressed in mourning garments reminiscent of the early 1800s, she has been spotted peering into the archives or standing motionless beside the grand staircase. Legend suggests she may be the widow of a colonial legislator who died suddenly during a session. Despite her silent demeanor, witnesses say they feel a rush of cold air and overwhelming sadness in her presence, an emotional energy that lingers long after she disappears.

A Revolutionary soldier in full military attire has also been spotted wandering the grounds, adding to the building's collection of colonial-era specters. While the Maryland State House does not officially advertise itself as a haunted destination, local paranormal groups have conducted unofficial investigations, capturing temperature drops, EMF spikes, and bizarre audio recordings. Some investigators report receiving intelligent responses via spirit boxes when asking about Washington, Stone, or the Treaty of Paris. Staff members, tour guides, and visitors report shadows moving down corridors long after the building locks its doors, whispered voices echoing through stairwells when no one else is around, and the sounds of papers shuffling or a gavel striking in empty rooms.