THE STORY
Reported Haunting
The Weems-Botts Museum has accumulated reports of paranormal activity connected to the people who once occupied the historic house. Visitors and investigators have described apparitions, unexplained voices, footsteps, and movement inside otherwise empty rooms. The building is regarded as one of Dumfries' best-known haunted historic properties.
Weems–Botts House Museum is dedicated to the history of Dumfries and the two people who lived here: Mason Locke “Parson” Weems and attorney Benjamin Botts. Weems (1759-1825) was a clergyman and author, the first biographer of George Washington, who created the cherry tree story (“I cannot tell a lie, I did it with my little hatchet”) as well as the tale that Washington threw a silver dollar more than 300 feet across the Rappahannock River. The home was sold in 1802 to Benjamin Botts (1776-1811) who famously represented Aaron Burr at his treason and conspiracy trial. Botts died in 1811 in the Richmond Theater fire. The house is said to be haunted: Witnesses say they have seen books fly off shelves and a bedroom closet door open by itself every day.