Vincent Vassal, Image of the Congressional Cemetery Swamp White Oak, 2026
From Congressional Cemetery (1801 E Street, SE):
“Historic Congressional Cemetery has achieved Level I Arboretum Accreditation through ArbNet, formally recognizing its commitment to tree stewardship, biodiversity, conservation, and public engagement. At the heart of the initiative is Congressional Cemetery’s signature Tree Walk, which invites visitors to explore more than 25 species in Washington’s Hill East neighborhood—an urban green space where history, nature, and community intersect.
The arboretum designation builds on a tradition that dates to the cemetery’s earliest days.
Its 1811 bylaws called for the grounds to be cared for and “ornamented” with trees, making trees part of the cemetery’s landscape from its beginning.
The cemetery is known for its spring display of Kwanzan and Okamé cherry blossoms, but its landscape also includes significant and mature “witness” trees, including a swamp white oak and southern magnolia dating to 1913.
“These trees are sentinels of time,” said Mark Hudson, Executive Director. “They connect us to the people and history of this place, while also reminding us that these landscapes have a future. Achieving arboretum status allows us to invest in the landscape’s future while strengthening its role as a place for community, connection and well-being.”
The arboretum initiative has been underway since 2024 with support from a Partners for Plants grant from the Garden Club of America and the Trowel Garden Club. The three-year partnership is supporting efforts to enhance the cemetery’s tree canopy and strengthen long-term landscape stewardship.
Sharon Metcalf, HCC’s Arboretum Partnership Coordinator and Volunteer, asserts that, “We could not have achieved Arboretum Accreditation without the extraordinary support of our partners—including Casey Trees, the Garden Club of America, the Capitol Hill Community Foundation, Nature Sacred, and the scores of HCC tree sponsors who helped bring this important environmental initiative to life.”