What are my options for interment?
Full burial sites, half sites for cremation, columbarium, and a scattering garden. Visit our Burial Options page to learn the difference between site types.
Do you still have space?
Yes! While we do have a finite number of graves remaining on our 35 acres, we will continue to add options for cremation.
How can I find who is buried here?
You can search by last name here. If the name you are searching for is not there, probably the person for whom you search is not at Congressional Cemetery.
Is the cemetery open for tours?
The Cemetery is always open during daylight hours for self-guided walking tours. Copies of the tours are available at the gatehouse, or can be downloaded here. Free, docent-led tours are [...]
What are those bulky, cubed-shaped stones with the little dome on top?
They’re called cenotaphs, which means “empty tomb.” Congressional Cemetery is home to 171 cenotaphs, which honor members of Congress who died in office during the first several decades of the [...]
Are you a government cemetery?
No. We are a non-profit 501 (c)(3) corporation, The Association for the Preservation of Historic Congressional Cemetery, and have a long-term lease to operate all aspects of the cemetery operations.
Do you have to be a member of Congress (or any other requirement) to be buried there?
No. You just have to be dead.
Why is it called Congressional Cemetery?
The cemetery had no formal name for its first four years. After it was deeded to Christ Church on Capitol Hill, its name became “Washington Parish Burial Ground.” In 1830, [...]
