The Haunted White House Collection

U.S. Trademark Protected Series

President Abraham Lincoln

The Playful White House Ghost!

Original Giannini Art

A tribute to one of America’s most enduring legends—the ghost of President Abraham Lincoln.

The White House Ghost Coffee Mug, is a collection of original art object that blend art, history, and eerie folklore into a unique, fun, and collectible heirloom series for you and generations to come.

The collection is the brainchild of Anthony Giannini, master artist, series creator, scientist, historian, educator, futurist, and CEO of the White House Gift Shop. Giannini’s creative process spans both traditional artistry and cutting-edge digital techniques, making each piece not just a collectible, but an experience steeped in history and mystery.

Lincoln’s Ghost:

A Haunting Legacy in the White House

In the annals of American history, few figures loom as large as Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. Lincoln’s legacy extends beyond his leadership during the Civil War and the emancipation of enslaved people; his presence, it seems, continues to haunt the White House to this day. Over the years, numerous presidents, first ladies, dignitaries, and even foreign royals have reported ghostly encounters with Lincoln. Giannini’s artwork draws from these real-life accounts. His Lincoln stands, larger-than-life, on the South Lawn of the White House, holding a glowing pumpkin in a playful nod to Halloween traditions. Yet the image is far from frightening. Lincoln’s ghost is depicted as smiling, approachable, and even comforting to the children trick-or-treating around him. Eerie bats, shadowy trees, and other classic Halloween imagery frame the scene, but Lincoln remains central—a ghost, perhaps, but one with warmth and humanity.

Anthony Giannini: The Artist Behind the Art

Anthony Giannini is more than just the CEO of the White House Gift Shop; he is a creator of worlds, bringing history to life through a fusion of art, storytelling, and technology. His work on the Haunted White House Collection, for example, involves sketching and painting alongside digital art, incorporating coding elements into his final designs. This innovative approach allows Giannini to create pieces that resonate on multiple levels—historical, artistic, and conceptual. Giannini fused several art elements into his Halloween illustrations by personally authoring digital art creations in Python code, resulting in truly unique fusion of art, history, and imagination. For the 2025 release of the Lincoln Ghost Mug, Giannini even authored a book (available January 1, 2026), "The Haunted White House: Book One" of alternating short stories and nonfiction articles that pushes the boundaries of modern science while connecting his themes and articles to White House and presidential history! The Haunted White House Collection is more than a series of collectibles; it’s an invitation to explore the hidden histories and lingering spirits of America’s most famous residence.

Historical Encounters with Lincoln’s Ghost

Grace Coolidge, the wife of President Calvin Coolidge, was one of the first to claim she saw Lincoln’s ghost, describing him standing silently at a window, gazing over the Potomac River. She wasn’t the last.

Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands famously fainted in 1942 after opening her White House bedroom door to find Lincoln’s spectral figure standing before her.

Even Winston Churchill, who was known for his composure, reported an encounter with Lincoln. Fresh from a bath, Churchill claimed he saw Lincoln’s ghost standing in his room. Without missing a beat, Churchill greeted him with a dry remark: "Good evening, Mr. President. You seem to have me at a disadvantage."

These encounters, along with countless others, have given rise to the legend of Lincoln’s restless spirit. Many believe that the weight of the Civil War and the assassination that cut short his presidency may explain why Lincoln has never fully left the White House.

The Eerie Premonition

Lincoln’s haunting of the White House takes on an even more chilling dimension when one considers his own premonition of death. After his election in 1860, Lincoln reported seeing a double image of his face in a mirror—one vibrant and full of life, the other ghostly pale. His wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, interpreted the vision as an omen that Lincoln would not survive his second term. And so it was: Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865, just days after the end of the Civil War. His tragic death only deepened the sense of mystery and melancholy that has since surrounded his ghostly presence in the White House.