D.C. Mondays: Historic Congressional Cemetery and America at 250
As the United States celebrates its 250th year, learn how one local historic site is commemorating the anniversary through programming and special events. Historic Congressional Cemetery has been preserving America’s history for almost 220 years. Each of the 70,000 individuals interred at this National Historic Landmark in Washington, D.C., has a story to tell. In 2026, staff will host a special Cemetery Speaker Series, join heritage organizations to honor founding father and former Vice President Elbridge Gerry, whose remains rest eternally at Congressional, and theme this year’s Soul Strolls — an immersive outdoor theater experience — “Becoming America” in commemoration of the nation’s significant milestone.
About Mark Hudson
Born and raised in Kansas, Mark Hudson became executive director of Historic Congressional Cemetery in 2025, where he is developing a 10-year sitewide plan to guide its care and development. Hudson began his more than three-decade career in public history in Missouri, Maryland and Vermont before arriving in the D.C. area to serve as executive director of Tudor Place Historic House & Garden in 2015. Hudson holds a B.A. in American history and a M.A. in historical administration and museum studies from the University of Kansas, as well as a master’s in library science from the University of Missouri.
How to Participate
This program is free and will take place online. To participate, please register in advance to reserve your space. Once you have registered, we will email you a link and details for joining on Zoom. Simply follow that link at the time the program starts (12 p.m. EDT / 9 a.m. PDT). When you register, you can also request to receive a reminder email one day before the program with the link included.
About the D.C. Mondays Series
Join authors, researchers and community members online for lively discussions about Washington, D.C.’s history, politics, culture and more. Browse upcoming programs