Congressional Cemetery is now a Level 1 Arboretum!

Historic Congressional Cemetery is a 35-acre urban green space that weaves together history, nature, and culture, offering visitors a unique opportunity to connect with the nation's past while enjoying its tranquil beauty. The cemetery has long been invested in providing communal green space; Environmental stewardship is a core tenant of HCC's mission.  

Accordingly, we are happy to share some exciting news! Historic Congressional Cemetery has been accredited as a Level 1 Arboretum by Arbnet! This is a monumental moment where HCC joins arboretums across the world in their collective mission to conserve, care for, and educate about our urban greenspace.  

What does being an accredited Level 1 Arboretum mean? Through an application process to the nonprofit Arbnet, an organization that connects arboretums, botanical gardens, and other organizations that support tree advocacy, HCC has met the standard of what makes a space an arboretum. This includes having over 25 different species of tree planted in the cemetery, a care plan, educational resources, and programming to support environmental preservation. By meeting the criteria, HCC proudly stands among their peers as an accredited arboretum. 

This project could not be possible without the indispensable efforts of dozens of individuals and organizations.  

Please join us in thanking the following individuals for their efforts: 

• Kennedy Simpson 

• Liam Ulsavech 

• Sharon Metcalf 

And special thanks to the following organizations whose support helped us achieve the accreditation: 

• Casey Trees 

• The Capitol Hill Community Foundation 

• The Garden Club of America  

• Fulcrum Residential  

To learn more about the Cemetery's Arboretum, please visit our website for our Tree Walk self-guided tour and the associated tree database.