Since 1719, Rock Creek Cemetery has been a final resting place for notable Washingtonians and is the oldest colonial cemetery in D.C. It is marked with ornate gravestones and mausoleums, with the most prominent featuring a bronze statue of a shrouded figure known to many as “Grief.” Sculpted in 1891 by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, it is the grave of historian (and descendant of U.S. Presidents John and John Quincy Adams) Henry Adams, who had it designed as a memorial for his socialite wife, “Clover” Adams. A favorite spot of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, visitors enjoy the contemplative space and admire its Buddhist-inspired design.
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Enigmatic Statue
Since 1719, Rock Creek Cemetery has been a final resting place for notable Washingtonians and is the oldest colonial cemetery in D.C. It is marked with ornate gravestones and mausoleums, with the most prominent featuring a bronze statue of a shrouded figure known to many as “Grief.” Sculpted in 1891 by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, it is the grave of historian (and descendant of U.S. Presidents John and John Quincy Adams) Henry Adams, who had it designed as a memorial for his socialite wife, “Clover” Adams. A favorite spot of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, visitors enjoy the contemplative space and admire its Buddhist-inspired design.
