Tuesday, May 20th at 7 pm
The Chapel at Historic Congressional Cemetery
1801 E Street SE
Washington DC 20003
Wine and cheese reception following. Suggested donation of $5

Washington, D.C. once had over 250 burial grounds within the city limits; today there are 22.  Early burials took place in churchyards or in family plots on farms or estates.  Formally planned cemeteries with their elaborate sculptures, vaults, landscaping, and monuments were a later introduction to the city’s landscape and reflected national trends in the treatment of the deceased.

In this talk we will describe the history and typology of cemeteries in the District as well as the demise of the many cemeteries that are now gone.  City archaeologists will explain the process of moving cemeteries once they are closed, and what happens when burials accidentally left behind are rediscovered during later development.

Anne Brockett, M.S. is an Architectural Historian with the DC Historic Preservation Office whose idea of fun is hiking though the countryside looking for old cemeteries.

Ruth Trocolli, Ph.D. is the City Archaeologist in the HPO and is responsible for identifying, preserving, and researching the District’s archaeological heritage – including former cemetery locations.

Closest Metro: Potomac Ave. (Blue/Orange lines)
Street Parking available