Zanin is founder of Historic Strolls, which has been giving character-led tours of Washington for 11 years. This Saturday, Zanin and other actors will hold a Civil War tour at 11 a.m., leaving from 10th and E streets NW. They also conduct haunted walks throughout October. Go to http://historicstrolls.com/. Do people come to you with ghost stories?
People call me and tell me that they work in Washington and have a ghost story, but not to give their name because it will destroy their credibility. One man worked at the Treasury Annex and the way he described this ghost it sounded like Frederick Douglass. So he asked what he looks like and I happened to have a picture of him in my purse, because I’m weird, and he said it was him. The Treasury Annex sits on top of the Freedman’s Bureau, which was failing in the 1870s, like many banks. The man told me he looked very concerned, he was probably looking over accounts.
Have you always believed in ghosts?
I didn’t. When I was working at the Historical Society I would close and thought ‘Who’s putting the velvet ropes on the floor and turning the lights off?’ Then one night I felt this person behind me. I didn’t want to tell anyone because they’d probably think I was crazy. Then one night one of the other girls was like, ‘Oh you didn’t know it was haunted?’ Then the ghosts weren’t scary, they were just annoying.
How do your ghost actors improvise with real people?
You have to be ready for anything. The actors have really quick changes too, so the Park Police sometimes see a woman behind a car changing into Victorian underwear and bolting across the park. Being in front of the White House too … if you see something happening, there are places the actors have a backup plan. If the Park Police or Secret Service ask you to move, you need to move.
— Leigh Giangreco
