Do you know the obscure story of DC’s ‘Phantom Tollbooth?’

Do you know the obscure story of DC's ‘Phantom Tollbooth’?

If you stroll a little ways down from the Lincoln Memorial — and stop short of the incoming traffic — you’ll find a wooden structure that looks like a toll booth.

The brown shack sits on the corner of Independence Avenue and 23rd Street SW, right before cars that whiz by it round the bend en route to the Kennedy Center.

Once a tiny shack for police tasked with directing traffic on Rock Creek Parkway, D.C.’s “Phantom Tollbooth” may never have been used to collect tolls from ghosts, but it certainly has a mystical look about it — and some fascinating history.

Find out more about how this structure, one that hardly anyone who drives by notices, has survived through the years in today’s episode of “Matt About Town!”

Hear “Matt About Town” first every Tuesday and Thursday on 103.5 FM!

“Matt About Town” is now also on YouTube. Follow @WTOPNewsDC and @TheMattAboutTown to subscribe and get the latest episodes wherever you are!

If you have a story idea you’d like Matt to cover, email him or chat with him on Instagram and TikTok.

Check out all “Matt About Town” episodes here!

Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

© 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

Matt Kaufax

If there's an off-the-beaten-path type of attraction, person or phenomenon in the D.C. area that you think more people should know about, Matt is your guy. An award-winning reporter for WTOP, he's always on the hunt for stories that provide a unique local flavor—a slice of life if you will.

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up