***SOLD OUT!***
You can’t let Halloween pass by without walking through at least one beautiful graveyard to appreciate our more haunted history. If your preferred way to celebrate the season is to reflect on the past and the lives of the dead, this is the event for you.
The Oak Hill Cemetery in Georgetown dates back to 1848 when William W. Corcoran purchased the land. Gorgeous in any season, it is particularly stunning in the fall (aka spooky season). Designed in the romantic style, the planning and layout of the graveyard were intended to blend with the natural landscape rather than manicure or contain it.
The site is distinguished not only by its stunning landscape but by the people buried there. This walking tour shines a light on the men and women of note and notoriety—well-known and unknown—buried in Oak Hill Cemetery. From Confederate spies to Union generals, educators to architects, Civil War to Cold War, we will guide you through this beautiful cemetery and recount the tales of those who call it their final resting place. And yes, there will be at least one ghost story. Costumes are not only welcome, but encouraged!
AFTER THE TOUR
We encourage you to take the self-guided tour at the Old Methodist Burying Ground (within today’s Mount Zion Cemetery) and the Female Union Band Society Cemetery, two of the oldest Black ancestry cemeteries in Washington, DC. The stark contrast between these two cemeteries offers an opportunity to consider how race and socioeconomic status affect us in life and in death.
The DC History History Center holds a number of collections related to local funeral homes and cemeteries. Use our online catalog to find additional collections.
If the October 28 tour fills, a second date on October 29 will be added, based on demand.