Beginning March 23, Historic Congressional Cemetery will implement new daily operating hours for general visitors. The cemetery grounds will be open each day from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
This adjustment is part of a broader operational effort to strengthen safety, security, and stewardship across the cemetery landscape. As one of Washington’s most historic places, and an active civic green space visited by thousands each year, Congressional Cemetery must continually balance public access with the safety and security of the site.
Establishing consistent daily hours helps staff administer the site and creates a safer environment for everyone. It is also a common best practice among historic sites and cultural institutions, helping to protect monuments, historic landscapes, and visitors while ensuring that the site remains welcoming to everyone.
What This Means for Visitors
Beginning March 23, the cemetery will be open to general visitors daily from 7:00 AM until 7:00 PM. Visitors should plan their visits so that they are not arriving until the opening hour and they are exiting by the closing hour.
If a visitor happens to remain on the grounds after closing time, they will still be able to exit the cemetery by using the exit button located at the gate.
Evening Events and Programs
Congressional Cemetery will continue hosting evening programs and special events after regular visiting hours. Guests attending a scheduled event, such as tours, performances, or other public programs, will still be able to access the grounds as part of that event. In these instances, the cemetery will remain closed to other visitors. Note, after hours events may still entail a closure to K9 Corps members.
K9 Corps Access
The K9 Corps has long been an important part of the cemetery community, helping animate the grounds with responsible dog walking while supporting the ongoing care and preservation of the site through membership.
Members of the cemetery’s K9 Corps dog walking program will have after-hours access to the grounds using a code members receive at orientation.
Daypass visitors will not receive the after-hours gate code, which is reserved exclusively for K9 Corps members.
Stewarding a Shared Landscape
For more than two centuries, Congressional Cemetery has served as both a sacred resting place and a shared community landscape. Since 1807, generations of Washingtonians have come here to mourn, remember, learn, and connect with the past.
Thoughtful operational changes like this one allow us to continue balancing these roles, ensuring that Congressional Cemetery remains both accessible, carefully stewarded, and, most importantly, safe for everyone.
We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of our community as we implement this change.
If you have questions, please contact our staff at: staff@congressionalcemetery.org
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