I am a Canadian planning a trip to Washington DC in July. Where/how can I find about famous tombstones in the area? I know of Mary Surratt in Mount Olive, anyone else interesting?
(Hey, some people collect toy cows!).
Find-A-Grave, District of Columbia
Ain’t the internet grand?
Of course, there’s always Arlington National Cemetary, which has Kennedy’s eternal flame and many other famous people involved in either government or the military. It’s really easy to get to, it’s right across the Potomac and on the Metro. Congressional Cemetary, which is in SE off of Pennsylvania Avenue near the Anacostia (don’t hang around too long) and it too has many famous people.
I don’t know if you could squeeze in a 40-mile drive (mostly freeway), but Edgar Allan Poe is buried in Baltimore. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=822&PIgrid=822&PIcrid=81776&
And Francis Scott Key in Frederick.
Heck, for the baseball inclined Lefty Grove is buried in Frostburg, MD.
No doubt, the District kicks ass in corpses and has serious cemetaries.
Don’t forget the UNfamous - the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Walter “Big Train” Johnson is buried in Rockville.
“Don’t forget the UNfamous - the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.”
Yes! Be sure to go when it’s time for a changing of the honor guard – hourly, IIRC. It’s sheer slow-motion precise choreography. Even the most yahoo tourists don’t make a peep during this solemn ceremony. The changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is by itself worth the trip to Arlington Cemetery IMHO.
Some others come to mind:
George Washington’s tomb at Mount Vernon (in essence a DC suburb)
James Smithson’s tomb in the Smithsonian Castle
Woodrow Wilson’s tomb at the Washington Cathedral
Thanx for all the help and hints-much appreciated! I am making my list. Just hope I have time to see most of these.
One question though- who is Walter “Big Train” Johnson?
YOU DON’T KNOW WHO WALTER JOHNSON IS? What do they teach you in Canadian schools anyway?
He was a famous baseball player (pitcher) for the Washington Senators many, many years ago. There’s a play named after him (The Big Train) as well as a high school in Bethesda.
bup, I assume you were being facetious or are you a WJ grad?
My great-great-grandfather is in Arlington Cemetary, behind the Lee mansion. If you want directions, I’ll give 'em to you. 
F Scott Fitzgerald is also buried in Rockville, at the Catholic church right in the middle of town. Easy walking distance from the Rockville Metro stop.
JohnBreden: We were just there for Memorial Day. We went to the Tomb of the Unknown and there were a bunch of people screwing around and throwing their hats at each other. The guard HAD TO YELL AT THEM AND REMIND THEM TO REMAIN SILENT AND RESPECTFUL AT ALL TIMES. It was such an embarrassment. I was truly ashamed for them. What a fantastic ceremony, though. Unbelieveable and very moving.