I know. The title to this post is just really bad. But it does make the point.

I’m fresh off a spring-time visit to Washington D.C. for a look at some of the attractions we often include in itineraries for educational student tours. And this – the topic of this post – is one of the things I noticed on my visit. Throughout Washington D.C. there are famous grave sites, sometimes expected – like those at Arlington – and sometimes completely unexpected, like that of Helen Keller, which I’ll get to later. Some are famous because they are empty, and the ongoing discussion about whether or not they will remain so, is completely inspiring.

Washington D.C. is known for its many places of reflection, namely its beautiful monuments and memorials. And the reason, I guess, for a memorial is to keep the person alive and a part of the world in some way. Similarly, the famous grave sites in Washington D.C. draw our attention to people who’ve gone before. And they often make us desperate to learn more about the person’s life and all they left us. Suddenly, students are driven to their history books and to research. They want to know about the person they’ve seen memorialized and the events that made them famous.

Here are some Washington D.C. grave sites – empty and not – that inspired me to greater understanding about the lives they memorialized.

George Washington

This guy’s burial history is a fascinating story. At Mt. Vernon, the home he owned and loved, you’ll hear all about it. You’ll see his original tomb and his newer one that’s a beautiful memorial holding both his and his wife’s caskets.  A ceremony occurs there daily. The other fascinating thing you’ll be told there is that a catacomb was also built in the United States Capitol meant to hold George Washington’s body. Martha Washington at one time agreed with this plan. But as it stands now, the discussion is still (technically) open, and the family maintains Washington’s body should remain at Mt. Vernon.

The Kennedys

John F. Kennedy’s grave site in Arlington is a popular memorial in this city filled with them. It is marked by an eternal flame, around which surrounds the interesting trivia that we’re not exactly sure where the idea of the flame came from. Gettysburg says it was them, Jackie Kennedy maintained it was inspired by a similar flame to unknown soldiers in Paris. Robert and Ted Kennedy are buried nearby, providing more interesting dialogue about what it takes to be buried in this prestigious cemetery.

The Unknowns

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is probably the most famous grave site in Washington D.C. (Technically, Arlington, of course). And students love its basic history – that it contains the remains of soldiers from several wars, remains that could not be identified, and that it therefore symbolizes all the men and women who die in battle but cannot be identified. Yet, still more interesting facts must follow. For instance, there is no soldier’s remains to represent the Vietnam War, because those that were there at one time have since been identified. This is a great chance to connect one educational attraction to another when students can see this soldier’s name on the Vietnam wall, once marked as missing, now found. Our guide went so far as to suggest we should never have an unidentified fallen soldier again, thanks to the marvelous strides in DNA testing.

Helen Keller

I was pleasantly surprised to see a statue of Helen Keller in the United States Capitol. Her life and accomplishments fascinate me and the idea that her hard work and embrace of life even as a child made her such a memorable figure that there is a statue of her – as a child – in our most revered public building. In the same way, I was moved and amazed that her final resting place is in the breathtaking National Cathedral. If students haven’t learned much about this woman before their visit to these two places, they’ll certainly want to know of her now.

It’s an amazing thing to imagine giving something to the world so great that it remembers you after you are gone. These places of reflection and inspiration make a wonderful addition to any educational tour.