Texas State Capitol

The largest state capitol building in the United States, this magnificent pink granite structure was completed in 1888. The Capitol has witnessed political drama, tragedy, and murder within its walls, including the assassination of Comptroller Robert Love in his office in 1903.

The Texas State Capitol, constructed in 1882, is said to be haunted year-round by politicians and visitors who don't keep any schedule. The ghosts of the Capitol show themselves to both tourists and political officials with unsettling regularity.

The most famous apparition is Comptroller Robert Marshall Love, who was murdered in his first-floor office in 1903. Love had begun his political career in 1872 as sheriff of Limestone County and rose to become Texas State Comptroller in 1901. On that fateful day, former employee W.G. Hill arrived at Love's office and handed him a letter. Before Love could finish reading it, Hill shot him twice in the chest.

Today, people claim to see Love still walking up the promenade to the Capitol, dressed in a top hat. His spirit is so lifelike that visitors on free tours don't even blink—he passes off as just one more staff member until he suddenly vanishes. Look for Love on misty days, when he and other ghosts are most likely to appear along the promenade.

Governor Edmond Jackson Davis also haunts the Capitol, bringing a distinct chill despite the Texas heat. His ghost stares down anyone in his path before disappearing.

A mysterious young woman in a red dress has been seen by too many employees and visitors to dismiss. She appears normal until she walks directly through a wall and vanishes.

Beyond these specific apparitions, staff report lights flickering, doors slamming shut on their own, and the feeling of being watched. Some have felt an invisible hand brush against them or tug at their clothing. Most inexplicably, handprints appear on windows that cannot be scrubbed off—even if the window is replaced, the prints return.

Late-night workers on the third floor, where Love was murdered, report particularly intense paranormal activity. The Capitol continues to function as the seat of Texas government, its living occupants sharing the halls with those who refuse to leave.