Swope’s Townhouse

Posted: 02.05.2025 | Updated: 02.05.2025

The Swope’s Townhouse is not your typical haunted house. For one, it sits in Alexandria, Virginia – an upper-class county more known for its colonial history and housing of many prominent DC politicians than for any spooky tales. 

But don’t let its polished reputation fool you. If you dig past the surface of its colonial history, you’ll find many harrowing and strange tales of hauntings, ghosts, and mysterious phenomena. Swope’s Townhouse has all of the above and it makes for an entertaining study. 

The name Swope comes from its first inhabitant, who many believe never really left the place, even after his death. You’ll learn all about him and more in this blog. And if you can’t get enough of this Alexandria ghost story, be sure to take our in-person Alexandria Ghosts tour for even more spooky tales of the area. 

Who Haunts Swope’s Townhouse?

As we mentioned above, it’s thought that the original homeowner, Michael Swope, is currently haunting his old abode. But notice that it was never said he was the only ghost in the building. Indeed, there are thought to be at least two ghosts causing mischief up there. More curiously, they both might have known each other in life.

History of the Townhouse

The story of Swope’s townhouse is an interesting one that dates back to America’s very first days as a nation. Construction of the house began in 1784 by one Colonel Michael Swope. Swope wasn’t just your average homebuilder of the day; the man was a certifiable war hero. He commanded a battalion during the Revolutionary War and helped win independence from Britain. 

Swope even had a level of national notoriety during his service. Near the beginning of the war, Swope was taken prisoner by the British and kept hostage for years. Swope kept his resolve and was eventually released in a prisoner exchange once the war had ended. And the prisoner he was exchanged for? None other than Benjamin Franklin’s son, William, who had taken up with the British cause as a loyalist.

Following the war, Swope moved his family to Alexandria, Virginia, to be closer to the nation’s new capital (the Swope family had previously lived in York, Pennsylvania). However, moving his family was a bit of a harrowing experience for Michael. Despite being exchanged fairly, the British still forced the weakened Michael to walk hundreds of miles to Pennsylvania to see his family again. That incident cemented Michael’s hatred for the British and he’d carry that grudge with him for the rest of his life.  

Although construction took years, Michael Swope was pleased with his new three-and-a-half-story townhouse. It was exactly what he had dreamed of, and the rest of his days passed in relative peace. He and his children operated multiple businesses for him, and the house remained with the Swope family until 1823. 

Swope’s Townhouse Hauntings

Swope would die peacefully in 1809. As was tradition with other members of his family, his body was taken to the family vault in Philadelphia. The vault housed not only family treasures but also family coffins. It served as a way for every Swopes family member to be honored and add to their shared Philadelphia territory. This practice was perhaps a bit ironic, given that Michael Swope elected to leave Philadelphia. But, his soul seemed to make peace with his final resting place, for it lay there dormant for many years. 

It was supposed to stay there, but fate had other plans. These plans would materialize a few decades later, in 1859. A Yellow Fever outbreak had overtaken the City of Brotherly Love, and city officials tried anything and everything to get the Swope Family to unearth their family vault and prove to the city that their ancestors had not died of yellow fever. 

The Swopes, after some protest, obliged and proved that it wasn’t yellow fever that had killed Michael. That should have settled things, but, as it turns out, it was just the beginning. While the yellow fever epidemic would eventually subside, unearthing Michael Swope’s remains ended up ushering in the beginning of his ghost sightings in the Swope’s Townhouse. 

And while the hauntings first started in the 1850s, they haven’t abated in the two centuries since. By the looks of things, it doesn’t look like they’ll stop anytime soon either; Michael Swope remains an elusive and vindictive spirit whose antics range from childish pranks to menacing visitors or, as he sees them, intruders. 

Strange Happenings 

Remember Swope’s hatred for the British? That never really went away, even after the man died. Ever since people sighted his ghost in his old townhouse, they’ve noticed the whiff of anything British will send Swope’s ghost into a fury. 

One woman, an English lady, toured his former home as a possible new property for herself. It’s said this enraged the ghost of Swope so much that he chose to act. And this isn’t just anyone who said this – it was the lady herself! She claimed that when she was ascending the staircase, she felt a cold hand stop her from going any further. The woman later told the realtor that she felt a lingering hatred for anything British coming from the cold-handed entity. Needless to say, she didn’t end up buying the property!

She’s not alone in experiencing Swope’s wrath either. He’s been spotted by many visitors and prospective buyers in a corporeal form, dressed impeccably in his Revolutionary War uniform. He never speaks when he’s seen – he’s normally content to just walk around his former grounds, taking in the sights. However, every now and again, he’s said to stare intently at any encroachers until they go away. 

However, he’s not always scary. His old piano is still in the Swope Townhouse, and on sunny days and when he’s in a particularly good mood, Michael is known to play a couple of tunes on it. 

Swope isn’t the only ghost that’s said to haunt the townhouse either. He’s not even the only Revolutionary War hero to do it, either! John Dixon was a spy for George Washington who was executed by the British for his espionage. He’s also said to call the Swope’s Townhouse home – perhaps bonding with his fellow veteran – and seems to also harbor an intense disliking of the British, being known for chasing off a couple of prospective buyers himself. 

Haunted Alexandria 

So, if you’re in the mood for buying a home, it may be prudent for you to look elsewhere, particularly if you’re British! But if you’re more interested in colonial ghosts or piano playing, the Swope’s Townhouse is the perfect place to visit. 

If you liked this story and want to learn similar tales, check out our Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. They spotlight other offbeat ghost stories all over the United States. Checking our blog is another good way to stay up-to-date with all the latest ghost stories and haunted spots in America.  

If you want to explore Virginia ghosts specifically, a ghost tour with our very own Alexandria Ghosts is the best way to do that. Our guides are knowledgeable and enthusiastic and can provide even more information on the area. 

Sources:

• https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=149717
• https://hauntedhouses.com/virginia/colonel-michael-swope-townhouse/
• https://alextimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/10.27.22-Layout.pdf