Congressional Cemetery

Congressional Cemetery Grounds open dawn to dusk everyday, dog walking by members. Founded in 1807, the cemetery is the final resting place of such notables as John Philip Sousa, J.
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Still an active cemetery with plots available, Congressional Cemetery has been owned by Christ Church since 1807 and has been operated by the nonprofit Historic Congressional Cemetery since 1976. Edgar Hoover, Vice President Elbridge Gerry, William Wirt, General Macomb and Push-ma-ta-ta. But as we say, you don't have to be rich and famous to be buried here, you just have to be dead. Located on Capitol Hill among 35 bucolic acres fronting the Anacostia River.

🌿Meet our new Interns, Tyler and Ivan! 🌱Tyler Green (first image) and Ivan Cotton-Powell (second image) have been select...
04/03/2026

🌿Meet our new Interns, Tyler and Ivan! 🌱

Tyler Green (first image) and Ivan Cotton-Powell (second image) have been selected for Historic Congressional Cemetery's newly established internship program in Groundskeeping and Maintenance. During the next six months, they will receive vocational training in basic groundskeeping practices and tool usage in support of the environmental stewardship mission of the Facilities and Grounds Department. The "Green Team", recognizable in their bright Irish Green HCC logo wear, will also assist in improving the aesthetic profile of our buildings and permanent fixtures.

Celebrate spring at Historic Congressional Cemetery’s Spring Fair on April 26th, 2026!Join us from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM f...
04/02/2026

Celebrate spring at Historic Congressional Cemetery’s Spring Fair on April 26th, 2026!

Join us from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM for an unforgettable day surrounded by the serene beauty of our historic grounds. Explore a vibrant marketplace featuring eco-friendly vendors, sustainable gifts, handmade crafts, and wholesome treats. From upcycled treasures and organic goods to environmentally conscious creations, there’s something special for everyone to enjoy this season.

This year’s Spring Fair brings even more opportunities to connect, learn, and celebrate:

11:30 AM – Bee Talk with DC Beekeepers Alliance
1:00 PM – Tree Walk Through History
3:45 PM – 4:45 PM – Batalá Parade, Washington’s all-female samba-reggae marching band, leading a spirited second-line parade

Our Spring Fair is a celebration of community and a commitment to sustainable living and preserving our natural heritage. In addition to shopping, guests can engage with educational experiences, explore the landscape, and enjoy the unique blend of history, nature, and culture that defines the cemetery.

Whether you’re looking to find one-of-a-kind gifts, learn something new, or simply enjoy a beautiful spring day outdoors, this event is the perfect way to welcome the season.

🎟 Tickets are still available! Check out An Evening with the Residents, a unique comedy program this spring. Named for t...
03/31/2026

🎟 Tickets are still available! Check out An Evening with the Residents, a unique comedy program this spring. Named for the affectionate nickname for those permanently interred at the Cemetery, the program invites guests to enjoy an evening of humor exploring themes of remembrance, mortality, and the ways we talk about life and legacy, delivered by some of DC’s top comedians.

The event continues Congressional Cemetery’s commitment to death awareness, encouraging open and approachable conversations about mortality in a historic setting dedicated to memory and community. Beer, wine, and soft drinks will be available for purchase.

The program will take place on Friday, April 3 from 7:30 to 9:30 PM, with doors and the bar opening at 7:00 PM in the Chapel.

Tickets are available here: https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/congressionalcemetery/an-evening-with-the-residents-a-comedy-show-at-historic-congressional-cemetery

The Okame cherry blossoms put on a stunning display, their vibrant pink blooms buzzing with life as bees move from flowe...
03/29/2026

The Okame cherry blossoms put on a stunning display, their vibrant pink blooms buzzing with life as bees move from flower to flower. These pollinators are essential to the health of our environment, supporting not just spring blossoms, but the entire ecosystems that depend on them.

Spring transforms the cemetery into something truly special, a peaceful, living landscape filled with color and quiet beauty. It’s a reminder that even in places of history and reflection, nature continues to thrive.

If you haven’t visited yet, now is the perfect time. Come walk the grounds and experience one of DC’s most unique and beautiful spring settings. And as you do, consider the small but powerful role we all play in protecting pollinators and preserving spaces like this.

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all who joined us for the Remembering Irish-American Sacrifice: Arsenal...
03/28/2026

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all who joined us for the Remembering Irish-American Sacrifice: Arsenal Monument Wreath-Laying event this past Friday. We were honored to welcome Her Excellency Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ambassador of Ireland to the United States, who offered commemorative remarks.

Ambassador Nason and Congressional Cemetery Executive Director Mark Hudson placed the ceremonial wreath at the Arsenal Monument in honor of the Irish immigrant women who lost their lives in the tragic Washington Arsenal explosion of June 1864. Their service to their adopted nation at a time of war underscores the powerful historical connection between Ireland and the United States, uniting the countries today in common purpose of remembrance and shared values.

The program concluded with a walking tour highlighting Irish Americans interred at Congressional Cemetery.

A special thanks to and Ambassador Nason.

We are proud to share the completion of our new Master Plan, a comprehensive roadmap that will guide the cemetery’s pres...
03/27/2026

We are proud to share the completion of our new Master Plan, a comprehensive roadmap that will guide the cemetery’s preservation, growth, and public engagement for the next decade and beyond.

This Master Plan represents the culmination of extensive research, professional planning, and, most importantly, meaningful community engagement. Over the course of the planning process, we invited neighbors, visitors, volunteers, families, and stakeholders to share their perspectives through surveys, public meetings, and ongoing conversations. The feedback we received was thoughtful, passionate, and deeply rooted in care for this historic landscape. We are grateful to everyone who participated. Their insights helped ensure that the plan reflects not only professional best practices, but also the lived experience of those who know and love Congressional Cemetery.

Read more about this Master Plan in our latest blog post: https://congressionalcemetery.org/blog/congressional-cemeterys-master-plan-our-roadmap-of-the-future/

Aerial photograph by Architect of the Capitol.

Please join us in welcoming Anjali Diezman (she/her) as HCC's new Events and Marketing Coordinator. Anjali completed a B...
03/26/2026

Please join us in welcoming Anjali Diezman (she/her) as HCC's new Events and Marketing Coordinator. Anjali completed a BFA at Virginia Commonwealth University and the Museum Education Program at George Washington University. Her passion for cemeteries stems from a lifelong love of art, nature, and storytelling coupled with a deep interest in death positivity. Having worked in community-centered museums, she is excited to share the stories of Historic Congressional Cemetery with all who visit. In her free time, Anjali enjoys fiber arts such as crochet and quilting. When the weather is nice, she'll be on a hiking trail or attempting a natural dye recipe with various levels of success.

In partnership with our friends at Ford’s Theatre, please join Congressional Cemetery on Saturday, April 18th from 1:00 ...
03/25/2026

In partnership with our friends at Ford’s Theatre, please join Congressional Cemetery on Saturday, April 18th from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM for a special event. One part speaking engagement and one part docent-led tour, this first entry in our 2026 Cemetery Speaker Series features keynote remarks on the Lincoln Assassination from Ford’s Theatre’s Interpretive Programs Manager, Daiya Malone, followed by a docent-led tour of the gravesites of individuals related to the assassination.

The speaker portion of this event will be held at the Congressional Cemetery Chapel. Tickets are $10. Space is limited so be sure to reserve your spot today at the Linktree link in our bio.

Today, on March 24, 2026, the Association for the Preservation of Historic Congressional Cemetery marks its 50th anniver...
03/24/2026

Today, on March 24, 2026, the Association for the Preservation of Historic Congressional Cemetery marks its 50th anniversary!

For fifty years, the Association has worked in partnership with Christ Church, Washington Parish, owner of the cemetery since 1812, to care for and steward this extraordinary landscape of memory. Formed during a period when the burial ground faced significant decline, the Association emerged out of a shared commitment to ensure that the cemetery would not only be preserved, but actively cared for as a place of remembrance, community, and public life.

Our enduring mission is multifaceted, but rooted in service to the community. We serve bereaved families who entrust us with the care of their loved ones, we invite our neighbors to find peace in our urban greenspace, we encourage visitors to connect with over two centuries of stories, and we treasure the tens of thousands of community members who gather here for programs, tours, and events each year.

We take deep joy and pride in this work. Every restored stone, every planted tree, every story shared, and every moment of remembrance reflects our commitment to stewarding our community treasure. Congressional Cemetery is more than a resting place; it is a living space where history is kept alive, where reflection is welcomed, and where community is always at the heart of what we do. As we begin to chart the course of the next 50 years, know that you are always welcome here.

This Women's History Month, Congressional Cemetery is highlighting a few interred residents whose contributions are impo...
03/23/2026

This Women's History Month, Congressional Cemetery is highlighting a few interred residents whose contributions are important to the history (herstory) of this country.

The Civil War was raging in August 1861 when Congress authorized the surgeon general to employ women as nurses at a pay rate of $12 a month. By the end of the war, approximately 3,300 women served as nurses for the Union, according to the Army Heritage Center Foundation.

One such remarkable woman is Florence J. Lithgow (née Pettigrew). She was born in Ireland circa 1834. It is unclear when she immigrated to the United States, and little is known about her early life. In 1862, 27-year-old Florence J. Pettigrew joined the Union cause as a nurse. For a few years, she was stationed at Armory Square Hospital in Washington, D.C. It was there that she met her husband, George Lithgow, the head of the dispensary. Florence continued to serve as a nurse at Point Lookout and Harewood Hospital until the end of the war.

According to her Evening Star obituary, Lithgow went on to work at the Redemption Division of the Treasury Department, thus joining the hundreds of women dubbed “Treasury Girls” or “Government Girls.” She was employed there for 40 years and retired at the age of 78. She lived long enough to be an honored guest at the dedication of the headquarters for the American Red Cross on May 12, 1917, in Washington. After her death at the age of 91 in 1925, she was buried at Congressional Cemetery in Range 53, Site 258.

Spring will soon be here, and that means the start of our docent-guided walking tour season! Tickets are now available f...
03/21/2026

Spring will soon be here, and that means the start of our docent-guided walking tour season! Tickets are now available for Introductory Tours scheduled in April, May, and June. Check the Introductory Tour schedule at congressionalcemetery.org/events and purchase your tickets today!

Over 67,000 people are interred at Congressional Cemetery, ranging from 1807 all the way until the present day. Their stories are American history in microcosm, all in 35 acres of the nation’s capital. Come and experience their extraordinary lives in a one of kind portal into the past. On this tour of approximately 90 minutes, one of our trained docents will share with you the stories of some of Congressional’s interred residents while walking the beautiful and scenic cemetery grounds.

Tickets to Introductory Tours are only $5 and all proceeds go to benefitting our non-profit mission of historical preservation and education.

Introductory Tours for the second half of 2026 will be scheduled and the tickets released in the coming months!

Today marks the first day of spring, and at Congressional Cemetery, the season is already in full bloom. The vibrant Oka...
03/20/2026

Today marks the first day of spring, and at Congressional Cemetery, the season is already in full bloom. The vibrant Okame cherry trees are blossoming across the grounds, offering one of the earliest and most beautiful signs of spring in Washington, D.C.

Our Gift Shop features several cherry blossom items that capture the beauty and renewal of this time of year. Whether you’re looking for a thoughtful gift or a keepsake from your visit, these seasonal selections offer a perfect way to bring a bit of spring home.

Featured Cherry Blossom Items:
• Cherry blossom Christmas ornament
• New Cherry Blossom HCC sticker
• New Bookmark and magnet featuring Kitty Linton's photography

Now is the perfect time to visit, enjoy a peaceful walk, and experience the cemetery as it comes to life for Spring.

While you’re here, stop by the Gatehouse to explore the shop or browse online at:
https://historic-congressional-cemetery.square.site/

Address

1801 E Street SE
Washington D.C., DC
20003

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 8am - 6am
Sunday 8am - 6am

Telephone

+12025430539

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