Adding Color and Beauty Taking Care of Congressional Cemetery

Article and Photos by Rindy O’Brien

Just a mile and half from the US Capitol is Congressional Cemetery, a space interwoven into the lives of many who live in the surrounding neighborhood with its summer outdoor movies, Halloween activities, a death doula, and dog walking memberships. It is also the burial site for John Philip Sousa, and many other famous folks. Now the Cemetery is sprucing itself up and a group of volunteers are adopting the larger cemetery plots to plant annual and perennial flowers that will add color and beauty to the 35-acre national historic landmark.

A Historical Treasure

The Congressional Cemetery, which is between E and G Streets and 18th and 19th streets, SE, was established in 1807. In March 1812 the deed and plan for the ceme-