District of Columbia Cemeteries

Cemetery records, such as tombstone and sexton’s records, have value in that they may give birth and death dates, age at death, name of spouse and children, a maiden name or, occasionally, a birthplace. Tombstones may have symbols or insignias indicating military service and social or religious affiliations. It is important to look at surrounding tombstones because family members may also be buried nearby.

The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Library has the original Registers of Burials in District of Columbia Cemeteries, 1847 to 1938 in six volumes.

The DAR collection, described in District of Columbia Genealogy, has many tombstone inscriptions. In some cases, you will need to write to the cemetery sexton's office for information. The oldest existing cemeteries are:

Rock Creek Cemetery
Rock Creek Church Road and Webster Street N.W. St. Paul's Episcopal Parish Washington, DC 20011 Telephone: 202-726-2080 The Daughters of the American Colonists have transcribed the tombstones of this cemetery

Congressional Cemetery
1801 E Street, S.E. Washington, DC 20003 Telephone: 202-543-0539 They have a "Famous People" card file. BillionGraves has headstone photos and transcriptions.

Mount Olivet Cemetery (Roman Catholic)
1300 Bladensburg Road, N.E. Washington, DC 20002 Telephone: 202-399-3000

Glenwood Cemetery
2219 Lincoln Road, N.E. Washington, DC 20002 Telephone: 202-667-1016 The stones were transcribed by the DAR

Images of Burial records for Glenwood Cemetery 1854-2013 now available online through Family Search.

The Oak Hill Cemetery Company
3001 R Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20007 Telephone: 202-337-6481

Prospect Hill Cemetery
2201 N. Capitol Street, N.E. Washington, DC 20002-1103 Telephone: 202-667-0676 Primarily German-American

Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, VA 22211 Telephone: 877-907-8585

Historical Cemeteries (remains already relocated if known)

 * Beall Burying Ground
 * Eastern Methodist Cemetery
 * Female Union Band Society Burying Ground
 * Graceland Cemetery
 * Holmeads Cemetery
 * Methodist Cemetery
 * Mount Zion Cemetery
 * Old Methodist Burying Ground
 * Presbyterian Graveyard
 * Rosemont Cemetery
 * St. Francis DeSales Cemetery
 * St. Matthew's Catholic Cemetery
 * St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery
 * St. Peter's Catholic Burial Ground
 * St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery
 * Young Mens Baptist Cemetery

Websites

 * Find A Grave – Search by name, date, or cemetery; browse by location or "claim to fame;" or add burial records.
 * USGenWeb D.C. D.C. cemetery links.