Oak Hill Cemetery Washington DC

It might be a bit odd to recommend that you visit a cemetery on your trip, but cemeteries are great places to learn about a city.  They combine history, architecture, and memories into something that resembles an outdoor museum. Oak Hill is no exception.

I come to Oak Hill whenever I am walking through Georgetown on a slow afternoon and have some time to myself. Filled with hills and winding paths, it is easy to lose track of time while wandering the grounds.

For the bookworms out there, Oak Hill also a nice place to spend an afternoon reading. There are many benches scattered throughout the cemetery, and there are no people to disturb you.

For history buffs and architecture-lovers, there is plenty to see here as well. The chapel by the entrance was built by James Renwick Jr., the same architect who designed the Smithsonian Castle and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. There are a few notable people buried here as well, such as Katharine and Philip Graham, publishers and owners of the Washington Post.