“We’re trying to show that Congressional Cemetery is really a microcosm of American history.”

This week, we speak with Kurt Deion, a public historian and author on the education team at the Historic Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC. Kurt shares his journey of visiting over 3,000 notable gravesites, the stories behind some of the most unique presidential monuments in America, and what it’s like to balance daily life at an active cemetery that doubles as a vibrant community space.

In this episode:
– Explore the unique atmosphere of Historic Congressional Cemetery, including its off-leash dog walking membership, Cinematery movie nights, and K-12 educational programming
– Hear about Kurt’s quest to visit every Supreme Court Justice, including the challenges of tracking down unverified burial sites and the research required to document the final resting places of 105 deceased jurists
– Learn about the “future resident” identity, where Kurt shares why he purchased his own plot at Congressional Cemetery in 2022 and how that connection informs his work as a steward of history