Headstones in Washington, D.C. & the DMV: Historic Cemeteries and Arlington

Washington's historic cemeteries — Oak Hill, Rock Creek and Congressional — sit alongside many church and community cemeteries across the District and its Maryland and Virginia suburbs. Arlington National Cemetery, across the Potomac, is the best known military cemetery in the country.

Arlington and veterans

Arlington has strict eligibility rules and supplies government headstones; private monuments aren't placed there. Many veterans' families choose a private granite monument in a family plot with service details. See veteran headstones and VA rules.

Many communities

The DMV is home to large Ethiopian, Salvadoran, Korean, Vietnamese and West African communities. Amharic, Spanish, Korean and other scripts can be engraved — have a fluent reader check the proof. See multilingual inscriptions.

Cemetery rules

In the United States, cemeteries are regulated state by state, and every cemetery — municipal, religious, nonprofit or private — sets its own rules on memorial sizes, materials, foundations and installation. Before you order:

• Ask the cemetery for its rules and fee schedule in writing (foundation, setting and any permit fees).
• Confirm who installs — cemetery staff or an approved monument company.
• Submit the design for approval before production.

Our cemetery headstone rules guide has a full checklist, and headstone setting fees explained covers the extra costs.

Factory-direct to the D.C. area

Marwaa Memorials manufactures in our own factory and delivers door-to-door across the USA under DAP terms, with freight, customs and duties included in the quote. Plan the design in our Design Studio, request a quote, or call our US team via the contact page. Read how DAP delivery works.

Local pages: our Washington, D.C. headstone guide. Maryland and Virginia families: see our Maryland and Virginia pages.