Association for the Preservation of Historic Congressional Cemetery

Founded in 1807 at the outskirts of the new federal city, the five acre Washington Parish Burial Ground quickly became the preferred graveyard for the Capitol Hill families constructing the Capitol Building and Navy Yard. As the federal government settled in to the new city, prestigious funeral processions carrying high officials to their final resting place became a common sight, so much so that Congress began funding the infrastructure so the small graveyard could handle the traffic. Soon enough Congress began calling the local graveyard The Congressional Burying Ground. The name stuck.

Today, the Association for the Preservation of Historic Congressional Cemetery maintains and operates the cemetery, managing all aspects of sales and interments, preservation and restoration, educational programs, guided tours, and landscape management. As a non-profit organization, Congressional relies on hundreds of volunteers and generous donors to preserve and interpret this national historic landmark.