Fort Lincoln

Fort Lincoln Cemetery is steeped in beauty, history and tradition. Chartered in 1912, it was a significant piece of land long before becoming a cemetery. The Old Spring House, the oldest standing structure on the cemetery grounds, was built in 1683. From 1510 to 1994, the grounds of Fort Lincoln Cemetery held the Lincoln Oak, a majestic oak tree under which President Abraham Lincoln met with troops during the Civil War. In 1994, the tree was destroyed by a bolt of lightning. A new white oak tree was planted on the site next to a plaque commemorating the original tree. The Battle of Bladensburg was fought near the Fort Lincoln grounds during the War of 1812, and the Old Dueling Grounds were active on the premises until 1820. Interior In 1991, the beautiful Fort Lincoln Funeral Home opened on cemetery grounds, allowing families to plan all of their final arrangements from one convenient location. At Fort Lincoln Cemetery and Funeral Home, we believe that every life is unique. Every funeral should be too. We celebrate life. For those who are thinking of planning their arrangements in advance, Fort Lincoln offers The Simplicity Plan® prearrangement program, an easy way to handle an important family responsibility. FORT LINCOLN FUNERAL HOME Repast Room Spacious Fort Lincoln Funeral Home is located directly on the grounds of Fort Lincoln Cemetery. The funeral home offers a formal chapel with seating for up to 150 guests. Our hospitality room offers families a gathering place to hold a repast for out-of-town visitors. This repast room, which features a stained-glass window designed by the renowned Conrad Pickel Studio, depicts Abraham Lincoln, the Old Spring House and the bell tower of the Community Mausoleum. The room can accommodate 125 guests. FORT LINCOLN CEMETERY CemeteryAs a cemetery, Fort Lincoln came to be in 1912, chartered by an Act of the Maryland General Assembly. The first burial occurred in 1920, and from then on, the cemetery began to create its own history. In 1929, the Little Church was built and, in addition to funeral and committal services, it has been used for many weddings. This building, with its stained-glass windows depicting Shakespeare's �Seven Ages of Man,� won an architectural award from the Board of Trade. A floral clock containing more than 10,000 colorful plants was created in 1938. It is the largest working clock of its kind in the United States. A number of scenic memorial gardens are located throughout the cemetery including the Garden of the Ascension, Garden of the Apostles, Garden of the Good Shepherd, Garden of the Crucifixion and Garden of the Cross. The Last Alarm Garden is dedicated to fallen firefighters and emergency medical technicians—heroes who served the area. MAUSOLEUMS Mausoleum The Community Mausoleum is located just behind the Little Church and features the largest collection of privately owned stained-glass windows in the Washington metropolitan area, including windows depicting the Quest for the Holy Grail. The Historic Garden Mausoleum stands as a tribute to the freedoms of the United States and features a bronze replica of the Liberty Bell. CREMATION Fort Lincoln also has an on-site crematory and offers a wide variety of options for those choosing cremation. Lovely niche areas, including the main columbarium situated in the Cloister Garden of the Little Church, house cremated remains for memorialization.