{"id":113926,"date":"2023-05-11T08:30:09","date_gmt":"2023-05-11T12:30:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/?p=113926"},"modified":"2026-03-04T12:04:55","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T17:04:55","slug":"object-58-cenotaphs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/object-58-cenotaphs\/","title":{"rendered":"Object 58: Congressional Cemetery Cenotaphs"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kb-image113926_cb3db7-f5.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image113926_cb3db7-f5 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:550px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image113926_cb3db7-f5.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image113926_cb3db7-f5 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image113926_cb3db7-f5 figure{max-width:550px;}.kb-image113926_cb3db7-f5 .image-is-svg, .kb-image113926_cb3db7-f5 .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image113926_cb3db7-f5 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image113926_cb3db7-f5 is-style-default\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/05\/058o-Cenotaphs-LOC.jpg\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"928\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/05\/058o-Cenotaphs-LOC.jpg?w=928\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/05\/058o-Cenotaphs-LOC.jpg?w=928\" alt=\"Rows of cenotaphs at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC, in an undated photo. The monuments were installed in the nineteenth century to memorialize members of Congress who died in office. (Library of Congress)\" class=\"lazyload kb-img wp-image-113932\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27928%27%20height%3D%27650%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20928%20650%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27928%27%20height%3D%27650%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/05\/058o-Cenotaphs-LOC.jpg?resize=300,210 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/05\/058o-Cenotaphs-LOC.jpg?resize=600,420 600w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/05\/058o-Cenotaphs-LOC.jpg?resize=768,538 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/05\/058o-Cenotaphs-LOC.jpg 928w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 928px) 100vw, 928px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Rows of cenotaphs at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC, in an undated photo. The monuments were installed in the nineteenth century to memorialize members of Congress who died in office. (Library of Congress)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1816, the vestry of Christ Church reserved 100 plots in the 4.5-acre Washington Parish Burial Ground for the interment of congressmen who died in office. <a href=\"https:\/\/congressionalcemetery.org\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Congressional Cemetery<\/a>, as it is known today, now occupies 35 acres of land in the southeast section of Washington, DC, and has served as the final resting place for scores of elected officials and <a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/100-objects\/object-20-the-washington-arsenal-monument\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"104422\">notable Washingtonians<\/a>. The more than 60,000 gravesites include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cem.va.gov\/cems\/lots\/congressional.asp\" rel=\"noopener\">806 maintained by VA<\/a>. Some 168 of the VA sites are adorned with one of the most distinctive markers to be found in the cemetery\u2014the iconic cenotaphs designed by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aoc.gov\/about-us\/history\/architects-of-the-capitol\/benjamin-henry-latrobe\" rel=\"noopener\">Benjamin H. Latrobe<\/a>, the nation\u2019s first professional architect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Derived from the Greek phrase meaning \u201cempty tomb,\u201d the word cenotaph traditionally refers to a monument erected to honor someone buried elsewhere.&nbsp;Latrobe came up with the design for the Congressional cenotaphs while working on the repair of the U.S. Capitol, which had been damaged by the British during the War of 1812. The sketch from his journal dating from 1816-17 shows the monument along with a casket placed in a chamber underneath. Fifty of the cenotaphs later installed in the cemetery conform to this vision and memorialize individuals who were actually interred there. The other 118 are truer to the meaning of the term and commemorate persons buried at another location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Their simple, geometric design reflected Latrobe\u2019s disdain for intricate early nineteenth-century grave markers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe object of erecting monuments to the dead is assuredly to perpetuate the memory of their merits,\u201d he wrote, but \u201cthe monuments usually put up in our Church Yards are the most ingeniously contrived to last as short a time as possible.\u201d His design required just a few pieces of sandstone, with the square foundation supporting a smaller block topped by a conical cap. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The entire structure measured 5.5 feet at its base and was just a shade taller in height. An inscribed marble panel set in one side identified the name of the deceased. Arranged in long, straight rows in the cemetery, the cenotaphs provided a sharp contrast to the disorderly burial sections neighboring them.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image113926_30b143-dd.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image113926_30b143-dd .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:550px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image113926_30b143-dd.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image113926_30b143-dd .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image113926_30b143-dd figure{max-width:550px;}.kb-image113926_30b143-dd .image-is-svg, .kb-image113926_30b143-dd .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image113926_30b143-dd .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image113926_30b143-dd\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/05\/058o-Latrobe-sketch.jpg\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1064\" height=\"893\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/05\/058o-Latrobe-sketch.jpg?w=1064\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/05\/058o-Latrobe-sketch.jpg?w=1064\" alt=\"Architect Benjamin H. Latrobe\u2019s rough sketch of the cenotaph, c. 1816-17, depicting the marker above ground and the tomb below. Most of the persons honored with a cenotaph were actually buried elsewhere. (Journals of Benjamin Henry Latrobe)\" class=\"lazyload kb-img wp-image-113931\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271064%27%20height%3D%27893%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201064%20893%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271064%27%20height%3D%27893%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/05\/058o-Latrobe-sketch.jpg?resize=300,252 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/05\/058o-Latrobe-sketch.jpg?resize=600,504 600w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/05\/058o-Latrobe-sketch.jpg?resize=768,645 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/05\/058o-Latrobe-sketch.jpg 1064w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 1064px) 100vw, 1064px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Architect Benjamin H. Latrobe\u2019s rough sketch of the cenotaph, c. 1816-17, depicting the marker above ground and the tomb below. Most of the persons honored with a cenotaph were actually buried elsewhere. (Journals of Benjamin Henry Latrobe)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The oldest interment marked with a cenotaph was, fittingly enough, that of the first congressman to be buried in the cemetery, Connecticut Senator Uriah Tracy (1755\u20131807). James Lent (1782\u20131833), a representative from New York, became the first person memorialized with what might be called a genuine cenotaph. Six years after he was laid to rest in his family\u2019s burial ground in New York, Congress installed a cenotaph to honor his memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to the cenotaphs, Latrobe left his imprint on many building projects in the nation\u2019s capital during its formative years. Born in Britain in 1764, he studied engineering and architecture before immigrating to the United States at the age of 32. As the second Architect of the Capitol, he produced its striking Neoclassical interiors, and he also had a hand in the design of the Navy Yard, the President&#8217;s House, and St. John\u2019s Church. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many of the city\u2019s buildings were constructed using the same fragile, brown-to-light-gray sandstone as the cenotaphs. Quarried from the Aquia Creek in nearby Stafford County, Virginia, the sandstone was easy to carve, but this quality also contributed to its weather-related deterioration. To protect the sandstone, it was sometimes painted or covered in a limestone wash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use of the Latrobe cenotaphs ceased in 1876. Their fall from favor is often attributed to Congressman George F. Hoar of Massachusetts, who said \u201cbeing buried beneath one would add new terrors to death. . . . I cannot conceive of an uglier shape.\u201d The markers were more or less ignored until 1928, when the U.S. Army quartermaster reported that 116 were in fair condition and the remainder dilapidated. Rather than undertaking a costly repair of the cenotaphs, which he considered the \u201cmost unattractive,\u201d he proposed replacing those that marked an actual burial site with \u201csuitable granite or marble monuments.\u201d The Army had other ideas. In the 1930s, it replaced the cenotaphs that could not be restored with identical markers.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image113926_dcd26a-72.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image113926_dcd26a-72 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:300px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image113926_dcd26a-72.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image113926_dcd26a-72 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image113926_dcd26a-72 figure{max-width:300px;}.kb-image113926_dcd26a-72 .image-is-svg, .kb-image113926_dcd26a-72 .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image113926_dcd26a-72 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image113926_dcd26a-72\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/05\/058o-Benjamin-Latrobe.jpg\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/05\/058o-Benjamin-Latrobe.jpg?w=1040\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/05\/058o-Benjamin-Latrobe.jpg?w=1040\" alt=\"Portrait of Benjamin Latrobe, second Architect of the Capitol, by artist Charles Wilson Peale, c. 1804. Latrobe served two presidents, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. (White House Collection)\" class=\"lazyload kb-img wp-image-113929\" width=\"260px\" height=\"306px\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27260%27%20height%3D%27306%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20260%20306%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27260%27%20height%3D%27306%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/05\/058o-Benjamin-Latrobe.jpg?resize=255,300 255w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/05\/058o-Benjamin-Latrobe.jpg?resize=509,600 509w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/05\/058o-Benjamin-Latrobe.jpg?resize=768,905 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/05\/058o-Benjamin-Latrobe.jpg 1040w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 1040px) 100vw, 1040px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Portrait of Benjamin Latrobe, second Architect of the Capitol, by artist Charles Wilson Peale, c. 1804. Latrobe served two presidents, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. (White House Collection)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Throughout the nineteenth century, the U.S. government paid for improvements to Congressional Cemetery. However, despite its reputation as a \u201cnational burying ground,\u201d there is no connection between Congressional and the system of national cemeteries established by <a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/featured-stories\/president-abraham-lincoln\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"103940\">Abraham Lincoln<\/a> during the Civil War for the burial of Union dead and generations of Veterans ever since. In 1953, the cenotaphs were among the 806 gravesites that became federal property through a land swap between the cemetery and the U.S. Army. <a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/featured-stories\/national-cemetery-system-1973\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"104037\">In 1973, VA<\/a> assumed responsibility for these sites along with most of the country\u2019s national cemeteries. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today the cenotaphs are counted among VA\u2019s oldest and most significant \u201cprivate\u201d grave markers. In 2007-2008, VA completed a comprehensive project to repair and restore the monuments through a partnership with the National Park Service. Material was salvaged from cenotaph components. Preservationists also employed Aquia Creek sandstone left over from a 1950s renovation of the Capitol as well as other types of stone compatible in color and texture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The project was awarded the 2009 District of Columbia Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation, while Congressional Cemetery in its entirety was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2011. Latrobe\u2019s cenotaphs have withstood the ravages of time and the barbed comments of critics to remain an indelible part of the cemetery\u2019s landscape.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Congressional Cemetery occupies 35 acres of land in the southeast section of Washington, DC, and has served as the final resting place for scores of elected officials and notable Washingtonians. The more than 60,000 gravesites include 806 maintained by VA. Some 168 of the VA sites are adorned with one of the most distinctive markers to be found in the cemetery\u2014the iconic cenotaphs designed by Benjamin H. Latrobe, the nation\u2019s first professional architect.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":117356,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[27,116,20,125],"class_list":["post-113926","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-100-objects","tag-civil-war","tag-monuments","tag-national-cemetery-administration","tag-national-cemetery-system"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/object-58-cenotaphs\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Object 58: Congressional Cemetery Cenotaphs","url":"http:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/object-58-cenotaphs\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/object-58-cenotaphs\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/05\/58-1-Cenotaphs_LOC.webp?w=300","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/05\/58-1-Cenotaphs_LOC.webp"},"articleSection":"History of VA in 100 Objects","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Department of Veterans Affairs (smw)"}],"creator":["Department of Veterans Affairs (smw)"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"VA History","logo":""},"keywords":["civil war","monuments","national cemetery administration","national cemetery system"],"dateCreated":"2023-05-11T12:30:09Z","datePublished":"2023-05-11T12:30:09Z","dateModified":"2026-03-04T17:04:55Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"headline\":\"Object 58: Congressional Cemetery Cenotaphs\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/history\\\/object-58-cenotaphs\\\/\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/history\\\/object-58-cenotaphs\\\/\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/history\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/10\\\/2023\\\/05\\\/58-1-Cenotaphs_LOC.webp?w=300\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/history\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/10\\\/2023\\\/05\\\/58-1-Cenotaphs_LOC.webp\"},\"articleSection\":\"History of VA in 100 Objects\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Department of Veterans Affairs (smw)\"}],\"creator\":[\"Department of Veterans Affairs (smw)\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"VA History\",\"logo\":\"\"},\"keywords\":[\"civil war\",\"monuments\",\"national cemetery administration\",\"national cemetery system\"],\"dateCreated\":\"2023-05-11T12:30:09Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-05-11T12:30:09Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-04T17:04:55Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/department.va.gov\/p.js"},"meta_box":{"external_links":"0","endorsement":"0","subheading":"","featured_image_alt_text":"Rows of cenotaphs at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC, in an undated photo. The monuments were installed in the nineteenth century to memorialize members of Congress who died in office. (Library of Congress)","byline":"Sara Amy Leach, Senior Historian, National Cemetery Administration","author_title":"Senior Historian, National Cemetery Administration (Retired)","external_source":"","external_source_url":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113926","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=113926"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113926\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":115335,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113926\/revisions\/115335"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/117356"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=113926"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=113926"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/history\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=113926"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}