Congressional Cemetery

Spring has arrived at Historic Congressional Cemetery, and so has the latest edition of The Graveyard Gazette! You can read the newsletter using the link in our bio. Inside the Spring 2026 newsletter you’ll find: • A letter from Board Vice Chair Marsha Lea. • A special 50th anniversary message from Executive Director Mark Hudson. • Introductions to new members of the HCC team. • An America250 feature on Elbridge Gerry, the only signer of the Declaration of Independence buried in Washington, D.C., by History Education Manager Kurt Deion. • Updates, stories, and more from DC’s Greatest Undertaking. As the cemetery blooms with colorful florals, fresh greenery, and new life, we’re grateful for the community that continues to preserve, promote, and protect this historic landscape. #history #cemetery #newsletter #america250

Spring is one of the most beautiful seasons at Congressional Cemetery, when vibrant blooms, flowering trees, and fresh greenery transform the historic grounds into one of DC’s most scenic green spaces. Whether you are visiting a loved one, looking for a peaceful walk or to explore the rich history of the Cemetery, spring offers the perfect time to wander the paths and take in the landscape. Be sure to pick up one of our self-guided walking tours and discover the stories, memorials, and hidden corners that make Congressional Cemetery such a unique destination. #Congressionalcemetery #springinDC #ThingstodoinDC #washingtondc

Join us for a captivating spring concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra (@natsymphonydc ) on May 9th at 2pm in our historic cemetery chapel. Our Spring Concert Series will immerse you in the beauty of live classical music, performed by the National Symphony Orchestra in this unique and intimate venue. This event is perfect for music lovers, families, and anyone seeking an afternoon of classic music in a historic setting. Limited seating is available, so be sure to arrive early to secure your spot. Advance registration is not required, admission is FREE and seating is first come, first served. Doors open at 1:30 pm. We look forward to seeing you there!🎼 #SpringConcert2025 #NationalSymphonyOrchestra #LiveMusic #ClassicalMusic #SpringInDC #CongressionalCemetery #ConcertNight #MusicLovers #DCEvents #HistoricVenue

Congressional Cemetery is proud to be featured as the cover story in the April issue of American Cemetery & Cremation magazine. In “Adapt or Die: The Lively Evolution of North American Cemeteries,” Director of Programming, A.J. Orlikoff, explores the challenges and opportunities facing cemeteries today, from shifting cultural expectations to long-term sustainability. He examines how places like Congressional Cemetery are evolving to remain relevant, active, and deeply connected to the communities they serve. At Congressional, we’ve long believed that cemeteries are places of memory, engagement, and life. This article reflects that philosophy and highlights the work being done here and across the field to ensure these landscapes endure. We’re grateful to magazine publishers @kates_boylston for the feature and proud to contribute to the broader conversation shaping the future of cemeteries. Cover photo by @kittylintonphotography #congressionalcemetery #cemetery #DCNonprofit #communityspaces #cemeterypreservation #capitolhill

As we continue our journey toward arboretum accreditation, we want to take a moment to recognize the partners and supporters who have made this work possible. Environmental stewardship at Historic Congressional Cemetery is not done alone; It is sustained by a community that believes in the power of green space, memory, and care. We are grateful to our tree sponsors, whose generosity has quite literally taken root across the landscape, and to the Capitol Hill Community Foundation @caphillfound , a cornerstone of support for our neighborhood and historic district. We also extend our thanks to the Garden Club of America @thegardenclubofamerica for their commitment to connecting people, plants, and the environment; to Casey Trees @caseytrees , whose leadership continues to shape Washington, D.C. as a city of trees; and to Nature Sacred @naturesacred , whose work helps make meaningful green spaces possible in urban environments. We invite you to visit and experience the impact of these partnerships firsthand. Spend a moment at the new Nature Sacred bench in the Circle of Life, or explore the Tree Walk Through History, now expanded with new interpretation accessible through QR-coded tree tags across the grounds. #arboretum #treewalk #congressionalcemetery #greenspace #thankyouforyoursupport

Congressional Cemetery is the final resting place of many mothers. Some were biological mothers, like Lucy Bell, who devoted her life to fighting for her family’s freedom from slavery. Some mothers are metaphorical, like Barbara Gittings, “A Mother of the Gay Rights Movement” (her memorial bench above), and Flora Adams Darling, the founding mother of the National Society United States Daughters of 1812. This Mother’s Day weekend, we invite you on a stroll to learn about the history of mothers of all kinds, through the lens of Congressional Cemetery. Tickets for this tour are available in the Linktree in our bio. 📷 by @kittylintonphotography #mothersday #congressionalcemetery #historytour #thingstodo

Historic Congressional Cemetery has a great slate of docent-led special topic tours scheduled in May and June! Our trained docents have curated walking tours to share the diverse history of HCC's interred residents. Come stroll and learn about mothers on Saturday, May 9th; Jewish Americans on Sunday, May 17th; contributors to the founding of DC on Saturday, May 30th; members of the LGBTQ+ community on Sunday, June 7th; and African Americans on Saturday, June 20th. Tickets are for sale on our events calendar in the Linktree in our bio. Tickets are only $10 and all proceeds go to benefitting our non-profit mission of historical preservation and education. #congressionalcemetery #history #tours #thingstodoindc #washingtondc

For this year’s Pride-focused Cemetery Speaker Series, we are honored to welcome Eric Marcus, founder and host of the @makinggayhistorypodcast , for a powerful evening of listening, learning, and reflection in a place where memory is all around us. Drawing from his decades-old archive of rare interviews, Marcus brings the history of the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement to life through the voices of those who lived it. Through audio clips from both well-known leaders and long-overlooked voices, the movement unfolds in a way that is immediate, human, and deeply resonant. This 45-minute presentation, followed by a Q&A, invites us to slow down and listen—to understand history not just as something that happened, but as something experienced. The evening will also include a guided LGBTQ+ grave tour of the cemetery, offering the opportunity to walk among the resting places of individuals whose lives intersect with the broader story of LGBTQ+ history. Together, the program and tour create a fuller experience, one that connects voice to place, memory to landscape. Whether you come to learn, reflect, or simply to be in community, you are welcome here. Join us, and help keep these voices alive. This special event starts in the cemetery's chapel on Thursday, June 4th at 5:30 pm. For more information and tickets, click the Linktree in our bio. #makinggayhistory #speakerseries #congressionalcemetery #pride #PrideMonth

Introducing our newest Gift Shop favorite, K9 “Kerchiefs” for your four-legged friends! Available in HCC green and offered in three sizes, these kerchiefs are sourced locally and hand-pressed by a member of the Congressional Cemetery community. They’re the perfect way for your furry family member to show a little neighborhood pride while strolling the grounds. We officially launched these at the Spring Fair this weekend but don’t worry, they’re available online too! Stop by the Gatehouse to shop in person or browse online via the link in our bio. If you’ve already picked one up, we’d love to see photos of your pup sporting their kerchief, feel free to share and tag us. #congressionalcemetery #K9Community #dogsofHCC

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this year’s Spring Fair! Despite the chilly weather, it was a wonderful day filled with community, connection, and a shared appreciation for the season. We were thrilled to welcome such a thoughtful and talented group of vendors, offering everything from natural products and sustainable gifts to handmade crafts and eco-friendly treats. Your support of these local makers and of the cemetery, continues to make this event so special. Beyond the marketplace, it was wonderful to see so many of you engaging in the day’s activities, especially the Tree Walk & Parade with Batalá. The Adopt-a-Plot table and community plant swap were also highlights, bringing people together to learn, share, and contribute to the care of this historic space. A heartfelt thank you to our incredible vendors for braving the cold and bringing such great energy, and to our generous sponsors: Fulcrum Residential, Nature Sacred, Casey Trees, Garden Club of America, and Capitol Hill Community Foundation, whose support helps make events like this possible. We’re grateful to everyone who came out to celebrate spring with us! #congressionalcemetery #springinDC #DCevents #Springfair

Support our partners @herodogsinc at the 6th Annual Hero Dogs 5k9 on May 16th! Sign up for a 5k or 1k run, and help raise funds for Hero Dogs, a nonprofit that improves the quality of life of our nation’s heroes and enhances the services of community organizations by placing assistance dogs with customized training and lifetime support.🐾 Tomorrow (April 25) is the last day to register with a guaranteed t-shirt. The final day to register is May 15, so don't delay supporting this great cause! Find the registration link in our linktree. #5k #herodogsinc #nonprofit #servicedog #therapydog

This weekend, Sunday the 26th, come celebrate Earth Day with us at the Congressional Cemetery Spring Fair's Plant Swap! Along with other environmental programming and eco-conscious vendors, there will be a table to learn about Congressional's Adopt-a-Plot Gardening Program and swap plants with the community. Cuttings, seedlings, plugs, and more are allowed for swapping. Please bring a plant to get a plant! Hope to see you on Sunday! #EarthDay #plantswap #plantparent #congressionalcemetery #thingstodoindc #ecofriendly