1

Abraham Lincoln

Image: Girma Nigusse

One of the most famous ghosts in the White House is none other than that of Abraham Lincoln. But this is nothing new. Shortly after the president's passing, employees of the Mansion began reporting sightings of a tall, shadowy figure dressed in a black suit. Several First Ladies, including Eleanor Roosevelt and Grace Coolidge, also claimed to have encountered Lincoln's spectral figure.

One of the best stories about his ghost involves a famous statesman from another country: Winston Churchill. During WWII, Churchill visited the White House. The story goes that after a night shower, he encountered Lincoln's ghost standing by the fireplace. Churchill greeted him calmly, saying, "Good evening, Mr. President. You seem to have me at a disadvantage."

2

Andrew Jackson

Image: Peter Oswald

Andrew Jackson, 7th President of the US, was famous for his strong, commanding personality. Perhaps it was this aspect of his character that gave rise to the tales of his loud –some say "angry"– ghost haunting the White House.

Jackson's ghost was said to appear regularly during Theodore Roosevelt's administration. Stories describe his presence as impossible to ignore, with loud footsteps and objects inexplicably falling. Another famous anecdote narrates a dinner party held by President Harry S. Truman at the White House. Many guests allegedly saw Jackson's figure standing in one of the hallways, appearing and disappearing right in front of them.

3

Thomas Jefferson

Image: Dominik Scythe

Thomas Jefferson was not only a Founding Father, the main author of the Declaration of Independence, the 3rd President of the United States, and the man behind the Louisiana Purchase. He was also a skilled violinist.

As a polymath, Jefferson was a wise, educated man with many talents. He played several instruments, but his favorite was the violin. Over the years, several stories have emerged about staff members and even other presidents hearing the haunting sound of a violin, seemingly coming from the Yellow Oval Room.

4

Dolley Madison and the Rose Garden

Image: KaLisa Veer

But paranormal stories aren't just about presidents; First Ladies also star in similar anecdotes.

One such tale is about Dolley Madison, First Lady to James Madison, who lived in the White House from 1809 to 1817 during his two terms. Dolley Madison was known to spend long hours in the gardens during her time at the House, particularly in the Rose Garden, which she loved. After her passing in 1849, many reported seeing a ghostly figure in the Rose Garden, hearing a woman's voice, or feeling as if they were being watched.

5

Abigail Adams

Image: Hugo

John Adams was the first president to ever live in the White House. He was there with his wife, Abigail Adams, during the last year of his term (1800-1801).

After Abigail's passing, many people working in the White House reported sightings of her ghost in the East Room, where she was said to hang laundry. Even today, some staff members claim to smell wet laundry near that room.

6

John Tyler

Image: Madara

Another of the haunted rooms in the White House is the Blue Room, apparently visited by the ghost of President John Tyler.

Tyler married his second wife, Julia Gardiner, in 1844 while still in office. As the story goes, the president had proposed to Julia on several occasions before she finally said yes. Over the years, reports emerged about the Blue Room of the White House, where it is suggested that footsteps are heard, and a man's voice seemingly declaring love or proposing marriage.

7

David Burnes

Image: Vihan Dalal

The White House has stood at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue since 1800. But before that, the land it occupies belonged to someone else.

David Burnes was one of the original landowners, living there before the government purchased it. Legend has it that he wasn't totally pleased with the sale of his land. After his death, several residents –including Abigail Adams– reportedly saw a figure resembling Burnes walking near the house, often watching it from a distance.

8

William Henry Harrison

Image: Peter Herrmann

It seems ghosts might be lurking in every corner of the White House. As we've seen, several rooms and even the gardens have been the setting for various paranormal tales. But that's not all: The attic holds its secrets, too.

This story involves William Henry Harrison, the 9th president of the US and the first to pass away during his time in the White House. It's said that his spirit now haunts the attic of the mansion, where footsteps and a wailing voice can be heard at times.

9

The Thing

Image: Steinar Engeland

Legend has it that a mysterious entity has been haunting the White House for some time, one not tied to any known historical figure.

Several members of the White House staff have reported strange experiences attributed to "the Thing." That's the name given to this presence that makes those nearby feel as if they are being watched. But here's the creepiest part: Several employees reported feeling pressure on their shoulders as if someone was lightly leaning on them.

10

The Demon Cat

Image: Abdu Rahman

Now, it's time for a ghost that doesn't take human form. It's the well-known " Demon cat" (or "DC"), a spectral black cat said to haunt several government buildings in Washington, DC.

According to legend, cats were brought to the city to control the rat population in the 19th century. But one of those cats never left. It's now a ghost haunting landmarks like the White House and the US Capitol. Some people say the ghostly cat appears small at first but grows to a creepy large size as it approaches. Some even describe it as reaching the size of a "huge tiger."

1

From trail to theater capital

Image: Christian Lendl

Before Broadway was packed with theaters, it was a Native American trail cutting across Manhattan. The Dutch later called it "the Gentlemen’s Street," and eventually the name "Broadway" stuck because of its unusual width. Did you know that?

2

Theater superstitions

Image: Gwen King

Broadway has its own share of taboos. For example, whistling backstage was once a no-no, since stagehands used whistles as signals. Saying the word "Macbeth" inside a theater is also believed to bring bad luck , so actors usually call it "the Scottish Play." Even in modern times, performers still keep these superstitions alive—just in case.

3

Why it’s called the Great White Way

Image: Martin Sanchez

All those glowing signs around Times Square gave Broadway its sparkling nickname. Starting in the early 1900s, electric lights lit up the blocks between 41st and 53rd Streets, dazzling visitors and creating the famous "Great White Way." Today, it’s still one of the brightest spots in New York City.

4

The first Broadway musical

Image: Kyle Head

In 1866, a play called The Black Crook made history. After a fire destroyed another theater, producers combined a ballet and a melodrama , creating a six-hour spectacle of music, dancing, and over-the-top staging. It became a runaway success and is often called the very first Broadway musical.

5

What counts as "on Broadway"

Image: Andreas M

People often think "on Broadway" just means any theater on that street, but it’s actually trickier than that . A show is considered Broadway if the theater has 500 or more seats and meets certain contract rules. Only a handful of actual Broadway theaters are physically on Broadway itself, which can be confusing for first-time visitors.

6

Phantom holds the record

Image: Rodrigo dos Santos

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera holds the crown as Broadway’s longest-running show. With more than 13,000 performances , it kept audiences hooked for decades. Some orchestra members even played the same music eight times a week for years, perfecting their own unique coping routines. Can you imagine doing that?

7

Cats and its mountain of yak hair

Image: Roman Suslov

During its long run, Cats became famous for something other than the catchy songs. The costume crew went through over 3,200 pounds of yak hair for wigs alone . It certainly paid off, as the play also became one of the biggest shows in Broadway’s history. Talk about commitment to authenticity.

8

The Lion King roars the loudest at the box office

Image: Iván Díaz

Since its 1997 debut, The Lion King has been Broadway’s biggest earner , pulling in over a billion dollars in ticket sales. With its breathtaking puppetry and Elton John’s music, it managed to win over both theatergoers and families who grew up with the movie.

9

Carrie, the musical failure

Image: Samuel Regan-Asante

Even if we’ve mentioned the greatest on Broadway, we must say not every show becomes a hit . In 1988, Broadway tried to turn Stephen King’s horror novel Carrie into a musical. Let’s just say it didn’t land, and if you’ve read the book, you can imagine why. Critics compared it to disasters of epic scale, and it closed after only five performances. One thing is for sure: Even the flops are big on Broadway.

10

Chicago’s real inspirations

Image: Sawyer Bengtson

The hit musical Chicago may feel like pure entertainment, but its leading ladies were inspired by real 1920s women accused of murder. Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner were both acquitted after trials that captured the public’s imagination. Their stories of crime, fame, and scandal became the backbone of the show.

11

Why theaters skip row I

Image: Vlah Dumitru

Maybe you’ve never noticed, but many theaters go from row H to J, and that’s not because of superstition. The reason is that the letter I looks too much like the number 1 , which can make ticketing confusing in dimly lit theaters. Some places also skip O or Q for similar reasons. It’s all about keeping the seating simple for audiences. Do you agree with this policy?

1

Oprah Winfrey

Image: Ilyass SEDDOUG

If it wasn't for a professor's advice, we might have never got to meet the incredible Oprah Winfrey!

After graduating with honors from high school, Oprah attended Tennessee State University to study Communication. During her college years, she already participated in several different radio shows. While in one of her classes, she received a call that changed her life: CBS Channel Five offered her a very important job. At first, Oprah said no, as her father always insisted that she complete her studies. Accepting the position would mean putting her education on hold, so it was a difficult choice for her.

Winfrey told the situation to her Scenic Design professor, who immediately encouraged her to take the job. "This is what you study for, to get a call from CBS!" he allegedly said.

2

Bill Gates

Image: Tadas Sar

Bill Gates' work, intelligence, and journey as an entrepreneur to become the famous co-founder of Microsoft are admirable. Maybe that's why many are surprised to learn that Gates dropped out of college.

He began his education at a private school in Seattle, Washington. It's said that he demonstrated high capacities in math and science. During the early years of his education, he came into contact with computers, awakening his passion at a young age.

When he was 18 years old, Gates enrolled at Harvard to pursue a degree in computer science. During his time there, he became interested in programming languages. In particular, he wanted to design one for the Altair 8800, an early personal computer developed by MITS. In 1975, Gates decided to leave Harvard to create BASIC, which later evolved into the well-known Microsoft, co-founded by Gates and Paul Allen.

3

Steve Jobs

Image: Sumudu Mohottige

A similar path to Gates was that of Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple Inc.

Jobs attended elementary and high school in Cupertino, California. In the 1970s, while he was still in high school, he met Steve Wozniak, an engineering student who would join him in creating Apple.

Jobs was said to have a free and rebellious nature. Perhaps it was that spirit that led him to leave Reed College in Portland, Oregon, after the first semester in order to have more time to pursue his true interests: technology and design.

Although he didn't pursue what we know as a formal education, Jobs educated himself in numerous fields in different parts of the world.

4

Mark Zuckerberg

Image: Deeksha Pahariya

Jobs and Gates aren't the only tech geniuses who decided to drop out of college to take another path. Mark Zuckerberg joins this list.

Zuckerberg already stood out during his elementary and high school years for his mathematics and computer science skills. But it was at Harvard University that he really explored his potential.

Mark Zuckerberg enrolled at Harvard in 2002 to study computer science and psychology. There, he developed a number of applications and platforms, but one gained him all the fame. We're talking about Facebook, one of the most famous social networks in the world today. Two years after entering the university, he left to fully dedicate himself to his company, which was growing in success every second.

5

Ellen DeGeneres

Image: Ioann-Mark Kuznietsov

Not all the names on this list belong to the tech world. There are also some other showbiz figures. One of them is Ellen DeGeneres, the unmistakable comedian, actress, and TV host who has won the hearts of many Americans.

Her comedy and acting talents shone during her high school years in Atlanta, Texas. After high school, Ellen enrolled at the University of New Orleans in 1976 to study communications. However, after a couple of months, she dropped out in order to concentrate on her entertainment career. During those years, she did comedy and stand-up shows, gaining fame first locally and then nationally, eventually having her first sitcom, "Ellen," and then her successful daytime talk show, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."

6

Steven Spielberg

Image: George Patient

Steven Spielberg is a talented and successful American film director whose name reached the ears of the whole world thanks to such classics as Jaws (1975), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Jurassic Park (1993), and many others.

In 1965, Spielberg enrolled at California State University Long Beach to pursue a career in film production. There, he started to work on many projects, and in 1968, he decided to drop out of college to pursue his passion.

In the 2000s, the famous director returned to college and completed his degree, presenting the iconic Schindler's List !

7

Brad Pitt

Image: César Guadarrama Cantú

The art of acting is truly admirable, and we can say, without a doubt, that the best actors and actresses in the world have a great mix of natural talent and hard work. A perfect example is Brad Pitt, who also has one more ingredient: his spectacular appearance.

After graduating from high school in 1982, Pitt enrolled at the University of Missouri to study Journalism and Advertising. There, he became interested in acting and participated in different creative and theatrical projects.

Two weeks before graduating, Pitt made the decision to quit college and move to California, where he would evolve as an actor into the world-renowned superstar he is today.

8

Larry Page

Image: Greg Bulla

Lansing, Michigan, was the birthplace of Larry Page, the co-founder of one of the world's largest technology companies. But before becoming the CEO of a huge corporation, Page also walked the halls of college, earning several degrees before his dropout.

Page earned a Bachelor of Science with a major in Computer Engineering with honors from the University of Michigan in 1995. He then enrolled at Stanford University, where he earned his Master's degree in 1998.

During his years at Stanford, he met Sergey Brin, with whom he would later co-found none other than Google! The success of their co-creation led Page to not complete his PhD, which he was pursuing during those years.

9

Ashton Kutcher

Image: Nathan Dumlao

When it comes to talented, hard-working, and handsome actors, Brad Pitt isn't the only one. Another one with all those attributes is Ashton Kutcher.

Kutcher is really smart. His hard work and intelligence led him to enroll at the University of Iowa in 1996, where he pursued a degree in biochemical engineering. But his student life was cut short when a talent agency discovered him.

In 1998, he decided to drop out of college to pursue his growing modeling and acting career. A few years ago, the actor famously declared, "I pursued something I was passionate about [...] So, that was the right decision for me."

10

Alicia Keys

Image: Soundtrap

Another artist on this list is none other than Alicia Keys, a major name in the entertainment world.

From a very young age, Alicia was encouraged to pursue her talent and artistic interests. She attended elementary and high schools specialized in arts, where she developed many of her musical talents.

After graduating from high school at 16, Keys was accepted into the Juilliard School in Manhattan, which is proof of her immense talent. However, the singer and songwriter decided to drop out of college a few months after being accepted in order to pursue her dreams as a singer. She signed her first record deal shortly after, and the rest is history!