We had a beautiful day to visit the cemetery. The cemetery was established in 1807. During that time, people were typically buried where they died rather than being sent back to their homes.
These markers are called cenotaphs. There are 165 of them in the cemetery meant to honor congressmen and senators who died in office. Only 80 of them are actually in use. By 1870, congress decided that they were ugly and they didn't want to be buried under them.
Here is a public vault. This was used as a holding place for bodies until they could be buried. They believe that the remains of over 6,000 people have been held in this vault. Included in the list are Presidents John Quincy Adams, William Henry Harrison and Zachary Taylor. Poor Dolley Madison had to stay for five years till her bankrupted son could afford to have her buried properly.
More beautiful headstones.
Love,
4Vs
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