The Radley house (and its inhabitant, Boo) are subject to a great deal of gossip and urban legend in Maycomb. The children have heard all of the stories about Boo, particularly the fact that he is supposed to have stabbed his mother with a pair of scissors. The house is representative of these stories because Boo, or the "monster" that they imagine when the think of Boo, is locked inside its walls.
For the same reason that children have dared one another to go inside "haunted" houses, made up tales about old abandoned buildings, told stories of ghosts and villains around campfires, gone to fun houses and watched horror movies, Scout, Jem and Dill are drawn to the house. It represents the unknown and the fears and possible dangers that go along with it. Also, as Dill's dare to Jem shows, the house presents an opportunity to prove manhood. Touching th house represents conquering a fear of the unknown.
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