Road Trip-Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.

You'd think Washington, D.C., has presidential gravesites galore to explore being the capital of our country but in fact there's only one. Just one lonely gravesite in our federal city and the same goes for Pennsylvania but the sites available are worth the trip and time to explore as they're near other historic sites that will keep you busy for days if you make the time for them. So let's begin with Washington. It has plenty of historic presidential sites to keep you busy for months on end but in terms of presidential gravesites there’s two sites. Washington National Cathedral holds the remains of Woodrow Wilson. His sarcophagus is found on the main floor, in the Wilson Bay, on the right side. In the bay you’ll see stain glass windows, some flags, and, of course, his sarcophagus. You’ll also see a tablet on the wall identifying his wife’s, Edith, internment site. Then, if you want to see his original internment site in the cathedral, head for the Bethlehem Chapel down one floor. And, since you’re in the cathedral, take time to explore. It’s huge with plenty to see. Admission is free and there is parking. You can get to the site on public transport using the bus. After exploring the cathedral, you can visit the Woodrow Wilson house; either 45 minutes on foot or 5-8 minutes by car. The home is worth touring as its complete (meaning you can see all the floors), it's the location where Wilson died, and it has a museum to begin the tour. Parking is available but can be tricky. Admission is required and the tours are around an hour. After you finish your tour, your next stop is Congressional Cemetery, a 15 minute car ride away or 45 minutes, roughly, via the subway. At this cemetery, you can see the Public Vault. It temporarily held the remains of Presidents J. Q. Adams, W. Harrison, and Taylor as well as Dolley Madison. And, while you’re in the cemetery, you can see the gravesite of Elbridge Gerry, 4th vice president under James Madison. There are also cenotaphs to explore; a cenotaph is a monument erected in the memory/honor of an individual buried elsewhere or who was previously buried in the cemetery. The cemetery has several other notable gravesites so stop by the visitor center and look for a guide map. Admission is free and parking is available near the cemetery. With these gravesites out of the way, there are two major historic sites to visit: Ford’s Theatre and the Petersen House. Both sites are inextricably linked to Abraham Lincoln and his assassination. For Ford’s Theatre, you’ll need to purchase a ticket, which will also give you access to the Peterson House. In Ford’s Theatre, you can tour the museum and read about the Civil War and Lincoln’s assassination. It’s worth the time and is really cool; kids will enjoy it as well. Upstairs, for the main attraction, you’ll sit in the theatre and watch a presentation given by a park ranger with view of Lincoln’s box suite; you might be able to look into the suite from the door in the hallway leading to the suite so inquire how to do so. After you tour the theatre, head across the street to the Peterson House. It’s not a long tour but you’re able to take pictures and you’ll see the bedroom where Lincoln died, along with the artifacts in the room. One other major site to visit in the U.S. Capitol, site of numerous presidential funerals, the Capitol crypt, and other related sites-death of President JQ Adams and Vice-President Henry Wilson. Visiting the Capitol requires a ticket (it's free) and a tour. The tour is not long, considering the size of the Capitol, but you do get access to the rotunda and can inquire about the crypt and the rooms where Adams and Wilson died.

Two hours northeast of Washington is Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where you can visit Woodward Hill Cemetery and see the gravesite of James Buchanan. It’ll be a brief visit, but the gravesite is nice and he’s the only president buried in the state. After seeing his grave, you may want to go to his home, Wheatland, for a tour. It’s well-maintained and was the site of his funeral; you’ll also see the bedroom where he passed away. Parking is available.

Time: 2+hrs; home and grounds

Before leaving the state, if you want to see the gravesite of George Dallas, 11th vice president under James Polk, you’ll need to drive to Saint Peter’s Episcopal Churchyard in Philadelphia. The drive will take around 80-90 minutes. His gravesite, a marble slab, is adjacent to a brick wall. Admission is free but check the church website for cemetery hours. Parking is available. Being that you’re in Philadelphia, there is a lot of history to see so perhaps visiting the Dallas gravesite is the impetus you need to see Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Benjamin Franklin’s gravesite, among others.

Sites of Interest:

Congressional Cemetery-https://congressionalcemetery.org

Washington National Cathedral-https://cathedral.org

Wilson Home-https://www.woodrowwilsonhouse.org/wilson-house

Wheatland-https://www.lancasterhistory.org/visit/tickets/

Woodward Hill Cemetery-http://www.woodwardhillcemetery.com

Ford’s Theatre-https://www.fords.org

Peterson Home-https://www.nps.gov/foth/the-petersen-house.htm

U.S. Capitol-https://www.visitthecapitol.gov

Saint Peter’s Episcopal Churchyard-https://www.stpetersphila.org

Notables to Visit in the State and District:

James Buchanan

Woodrow Wilson

*George Dallas