Hubbard Bell Grossman Pillot Memorial

The Hubbard Bell Grossman Pillot Memorial is a marble sculpture within Rock Creek Cemetery featuring classical relief carvings. The work shows a seated male figure turned to the right, holding a torch and positioned beside an urn.

The memorial was erected as a burial site for prominent members of the Bell and Grosvenor families. The Smithsonian Institution documented this work during the 1960s as part of their inventory project for American painting and sculpture.

This memorial marks the resting place of Gilbert Hovey Grosvenor, editor of National Geographic, and Elsie May Bell, daughter of telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell. The site connects the legacies of families who shaped American science and innovation.

The memorial is located within Rock Creek Cemetery, a quiet area in northwest Washington, D.C. It is best visited on foot, as it sits within an established cemetery with marked pathways.

The cemetery contains bronze markers identifying fourteen individuals connected to the memorial, including the parents of Alexander Graham Bell. These markers tell the story of a family deeply rooted in American invention and scientific endeavor.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Made from material: marble

GPS coordinates: 38.94766,-77.01117

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:40