Cemeteries in DC
"The
Political Graveyard" --
Politicians and famous people
buried in DC
Adas
Israel Hebrew Cemetery
1400 Alabama Ave. SE, 20032
(202) 562-5831
Congressional Cemetery
(see
NEW LINK !! Historic
Congressional Cemetery
website)
1801 E St. SE, 20003
(202) 543-0539
Established in 1807 by local residents, given to Christ Church, Capitol
Hill, in
1808.
Old Methodist Burying Ground
Q St., NW, between 27th and Q St. Bridge
Land purchased in 1808 by Montgomery Street Methodist Church
(now Dumbarton
United Methodist ). Two-thirds was set aside for white
burials, the other
third for African-American burials. White burials continued in the
property
until after the Civil War, although decreased after Oak Hill opened in
1849.
Several white graves were disinterred and moved between 1849 and 1892;
most of
those were buried at Oak Hill. In 1879, Mount Zion
leased the cemetery
from Dumbarton for 99 years. African-American members of Mount Zion
were buried
in the remaining available sections and in the plots left open by the
white
disinterments. The last burial was in 1950.
Elesavetgrad Cemetery Association
3233 15th Place SE, 20002
(202) 563-1775
Female Union Band Society Cemetery (adjacent to the Old
Methodist Burying
Ground)
This was a burial society for free blacks; many of its members were
affiliated
with Mount Zion United Methodist Church. After
Mount Zion took over the Dumbarton
Cemetery, distinctions between the two cemeteries faded in
the public mind,
and the two properties together became popularly known as the Mount
Zion
Cemetery. Beginning in the late 1950s, real estate developers
made numerous
efforts to purchase the two properties. They wanted to disinter and
move all the
graves and construct luxury townhouses on the site. Lengthy court
battles
ensued; in 1975, U.S.District Judge Oliver Gasch issued a court order
forbidding
disinterments and appointed trustees to administer the cemeteries.
Because the
vault was probably a stop on the Underground Railroad,
the property has
been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
and the Black
History Trail.
Glenwood
Cemetery
2219
Lincoln Rd. NE, 20002
(202) 667-1016
Established in 1854, expanded significantly during Civil War, when 1500
graves
were moved from graveyard of original Foundry United Methodist Church.
Holy Rood Cemetery
Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Upper Georgetown
(The original Catholic burying ground of Georgetown. Graves originally
located
in the Holy Trinity Churchyard were moved here in the early 19th
century.
Burials continued throughout the 19th century, generally in family
plots. By
last quarter of the century, burials were generally at Mt. Olivet. The
Holy Rood
plot books are kept in the Georgetown University Library.
Mt. Olivet Cemetery
1300 Bladensburg Rd. NE,
20002
(202) 399-3000
(Founded in 1858, became the central Catholic Cemetery for DC. After
Holy Rood
filled up, Georgetown Catholic burials were at Mt. Olivet also.)
Mt.
Zion Cemetery
Q St., NW, between 27th and Q St. Bridge
Georgetown
Oak Hill Cemetery
30th
and R St. NW (3001 R Street NW), 20007
Georgetown
(202) 337-2835
Early 19th century, gatehouse built 1839.
[Oak Hill is a private cemetery located off R Street NW. It
was chartered
by the U.S. Congress in 1849. Oak Hill was developed as a
Victorian garden
where visitors can enjoy the botanical garden-style plantings, meditate
and
enjoy the wonders of nature. Architect James
Renwick designed the
chapel.
There are a number of pre-1849 graves in the cemetery, mostly those who
were
originally buried in either the Methodist or Presbyterian cemeteries in
Georgetown and disinterred and reburied at Oak Hill after 1849.
Research and visitation requests are complied within reason and rules
set by the
Oak Hill's Board of Directors.]
Prospect
Hill Cemetery
2201 North Capitol St. NE, 20002
(202) 667-0676
Founded 1858, the cemetery was originally affiliated with the Concordia
Lutheran
Church, an early German-speaking congregation. Of over 14,000 burials,
75% are
German-American. There is a history of the cemetery available for
purchase from
the cemetery office. The burial records are searchable via card file or
microfilm (1860's-1960's). Reportedly there is also an on-line
database, but
Web, FTP and Gopher searches did not yield the URL. Phone them.
Rock
Creek Cemetery
Rock Creek Church Road NW
(202) 829-0585
Oldest cemetery in DC. St. Paul's Episcopal Church, built 1775, is
adjacent.
St.
Mary's Catholic Cemetery
2121 Lincoln Rd NE, 20002
(202) 635-7444
Contains significant number of Greek and Italian graves. Oldest grave
is 1862.