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A Living Museum: A Portrait of Oak Hill Cemetery Anna Cordova

The rural cemetery movement emerged in the early to mid-19th century in response to the overcrowded and unsanitary conditions of urban burial sites. Advocates sought to create burial grounds that resembled parks or gardens, emphasizing beauty and tranquility. These cemeteries were designed to be serene spaces where families could visit and reflect on their loved ones, often featuring winding paths, lush landscaping, and ornamental monuments.

Unnamed, neighbored Katharine Graham, beside the cemetery before moving to France and now Australia. "I lived right here for years, and yet I never visited." He said. "Now, I'm visiting, and thought I would take a walk through the grounds. It's really beautiful, and I never realized."

Corcoran established it as a non-denominational space, welcoming individuals of all faiths, races, and ethnicities. Today, it is a resting place for a diverse community. Notable figures buried in the 22-acre plot are Katharine Graham, Madeleine Albright, Secretary of State Dean Acheson and Edwin M. Stanton. It also holds Frederick Aiken, Mary Surratt’s defense attorney in the Lincoln assassination trial. In addition to hosting influential figures, Oak Hill Cemetery is the final resting place for many long-time Georgetown residents who cherish the cemetery's tranquility and atmosphere.

Elizabeth Meers has lived near the Georgetown University campus for most of her life. She sits on a marble bench at the edge of the cemetery. "It's my perch," Meer laughed. "This is my husband's grave, I come here once a month to sit. We chose this spot because we thought he would like it."
The Linthicum family mausoleam is currently fenced off while it is being restored.

From the beginning of Oak Hill’s long history, families have selected sites for and built mausoleum structures. Family names like Carrol, Beale, Darlington, and Linthicum are some of the early names who built mausoleums for multiple generations of their families.

“As I mentioned, we have about 20,000 people there and it really is a living museum of Washington, D.C. Once you start walking around back there, I tell everyone to get lost on purpose,” Paul K. Williams, the superintendent of the Oak Hill Cemetery said in an interview with WTOP News

Burial marker of Hayward Ramsdell (top), one of the many children buried in the cemetery. Sunlight shining upon grave markers sitting atop the hill (bottom)

Oak Hill Cemetery is a place that combines natural scenery with a rich history. Its winding paths and lush greenery create a peaceful atmosphere for visitors. The cemetery acts as a living museum, featuring unique mausoleums and honoring notable figures from Washington, D.C.'s past. With its park-like structure and historic charm, Oak Hill invites people to reflect and explore, making it a tranquil resting place that celebrates history while offering a serene area for everyone.

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