Historic Congressional Cemetery is administered by the nonprofit Association for the Preservation of Historic Congressional Cemetery and owned by Christ Church, Washington Parish. The Association is constantly striving to maintain the historic, cultural, and aesthetic qualities of this natural landscape along the Anacostia River.
Congressional Cemetery is among the oldest institutions in Washington and the final resting place for scores of individuals who were instrumental in the founding of the nation and its new capitol city. With the first burial in 1807, the cemetery almost immediately became associated with the United States Congress and thus earns the distinction of being the first cemetery of national memory. In addition, it is the only place in Washington where one can be buried in a site directly on L’Enfant’s 18th century city plan. Congressional Cemetery was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2011 and continues to build upon the legacy of over 200 years of American history.
In order to maintain this historic landscape for future generations, The Association for the Preservation of Historic Congressional Cemetery has established Rules and Regulations in order to meet or exceed the National Park Service Standards for Historic Preservation.
These principles and procedures regulate the sale of lots, interments, placement of structures, planting, liability, and etiquette within the gates of the cemetery.
Definitions
Association
The Association for the Preservation of Historic Congressional Cemetery is the nonprofit organization that acts as a steward of the site.
Board of Directors
Appointed members in charge of supervision and decision making for the Association.
Burial Plot
A plot of land designated by Range and Site numbers that may be used for the burial of human remains. Typically measures 3’ by 8’ with a 2’ pathway for separation between every other range.
Cemetery
A burial park for the combination of earth interments and inurnments and tomb, crypt, or mausoleum entombments.
Entombment
The interment of remains in a tomb, vault, or mausoleum.
Footstone
Memorial placed at the foot of the grave. Generally flush to the ground.
Headstone
Memorial placed at the head of the grave.
Interment
An interment may be in the form of a full body casket or an urn, and placed in the ground.
Interment Right
An Interment Right shall be defined as the right to bury the remains of human remains in a designated burial site.
Inurnment
A burial in the form of ashes and/or urn.
Lineal Descendant
A person in direct ancestral line of a lot owner. For example: grandmother, mother, and granddaughter.
Mausoleum
Aboveground structures that hold remains.
Memorial
Includes a monument, marker, tablet, headstone, private mausoleum, or tomb to commemorate and indicate the location of a burial.
Niche
Area designed for cremation inurnments.
Lot Owner
Person who purchased the Interment Right for a particular burial site and regulates decisions made about the burial site with the approval of the Association.
Range
Numbered dissections dividing the cemetery from West to East; The first number in the address of a specific burial plot.
Site
Numbered dissections dividing the cemetery from North to South; The second number in the address of a specific burial plot.
Congressional Cemetery hours
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