Cemetery Spirits & Stories — LGBT Stories
Join us for an evening of wine, spirits, and stories in the cemetery that J. Edgar Hoover, Madam Mary Anne Hall, and Marion Berry all call their eternal home. As the sun begins its descent, we will sip wine in the very vault where Dolley Madison had once lain. Afterward, attendees will take a rarely-given tour of cemetery highlights. Join docent Jeff Rollins for an LGBT tour of Historic Congressional Cemetery . Believed to be the world's only cemetery with a dedicated LGBT section, Historic Congressional Cemetery (HCC) in southeast D.C. is the final resting place for 65,000 souls who are buried six feet below. Find out who is buried here!
One of the country's most historic cemeteries, Congressional Cemetery is home to more than 68,000 souls including mayors, madams, gay rights advocates, Disney Imagineers, Supreme Court justices, senators, and the first director of the FBI. It's also believed to be the only cemetery in the world with a dedicated LGBTQ section. Recently the cemetery added a final resting place for furry friends—becoming D.C.'s first known pet cemetery.
Hi. I'm Sarah, a member of the Atlas Obscura community. I’m Congressional Cemetery’s Director of Programs and Special Events and excited to be working at the historic site that the Washington Post dubbed as “America's Hippest Cemetery." A nationally recognized leader in preservation, our cemetery hosts numerous serious and fun events throughout the year including races, screenings, beehive tending as well as welcoming members of the "K-9 Corps.” We are also believed to be the world’s only cemetery with a dedicated LGBT section and is the future home of the National LGBT Veterans Memorial. Before working in D.C., I was the Superintendent at First State Heritage Park in Dover, DE, the state's first urban "park without boundaries.” While there, I loved giving lantern tours in historic cemeteries and creating themed monthly programs.
For questions about this experience, please contact me directly through Airbnb.
- The walking tour covers about a mile. Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes. - This event is rain or shine provided it's safe. - Street parking is available.
There are 10 spots available on this experience.
Guests ages 21 and up can attend.
- Closed-toe, walking shoes
- Weather-appropriate clothing
- Water
- I.D. (This is a 21+ event)
Any experience can be canceled and fully refunded within 24 hours of purchase. See cancellation policy.
Light snacks will be provided
Two drink tickets for either beer or wine are included.
