Accordion grave.

Accordion Grave

Washington, DC

In 2002, musician Joyce Palmer formed the Capitol Hill Accordion Orchestra Society (CHAOS). Palmer was also a board member of Congressional Cemetery, which for a number of years was decaying and in dire financial straits. Palmer and CHAOS played five times at the cemetery as part of the successful effort to revive the 200-year-old graveyard and make it once again an inviting place for the public.

Joyce subsequently purchased a burial plot along the cemetery's front entranceway, where CHAOS had held its performances. The plot can accommodate the remains of up to ten people, and Palmer chose to open the site to poor musicians. She also made certain that the plot would be easy to find: it's marked by a polished granite stone carved into the shape of a giant accordion.

[Grave report by Kurt Deion]

Congressional Cemetery Map

Congressional Cemetery: A Not-Grave Graveyard: Find more like this in our roadside roundup map of Congressional Cemetery

Also see: Congressional Cemetery

Accordion Grave

Congressional Cemetery

Address:: 1801 E St. SE, Washington, DC
Directions:: Walk into the cemetery at the intersection of Potomac Ave. SE and E St. SE. Walk straight in, about 100 yards. You'll see the accordion grave on the right.
Hours:: Daylight daily; gated after hours. Office M-F 9-5. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:: 202-543-0539

Nearby Offbeat Places

Congressional Cemetery: A Not-Grave Graveyard, Washington, DC - < 1 mi.

Card Catalog Grave, Washington, DC - < 1 mi.

Unmarked Grave of a Lincoln Conspirator, Washington, DC - < 1 mi.

In the region:

Van Gogh's Starry Night in Door Knobs, Bethesda, MD - 10 mi.

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