Public Vault at the Congressional Cemetery
Public Vault at the Congressional Cemetery, Receiving vault at Congressional Cemetery, Washington D.C., United States.
The Public Vault features classical stone architecture with a central entrance and serves as a temporary storage facility for deceased individuals.
Built in 1832, this vault stored the remains of three United States Presidents and First Lady Dolley Madison before their final burials.
The vault reflects nineteenth-century American burial customs when bodies needed temporary storage before transportation to permanent resting places.
Visitors can access the Congressional Cemetery daily and observe the Public Vault among numerous historical graves and monuments.
The structure maintained deceased individuals before modern refrigeration methods, including President William Henry Harrison for three decades.
Location: Washington, D.C.
Part of: Congressional Cemetery
GPS coordinates: 38.88174,-76.97863
Latest update: March 11, 2025 12:26
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