A graveyard with a sign indicating a site under study for restoration. The sign states it is the grave of George Gilpin, a Revolutionary War hero, surveyor, and architect, who died in 1813. There are trees, grass, gravestones, and a large building with an American flag in the background.

Colonel George Gilpin Restoration Project

From Family History to Historic Preservation

The Colonel George Gilpin Restoration Project began in August 2024 when Heather Ross, a descendant of Colonel George Gilpin, reached out to members of Alexandria's historical community seeking information about her ancestor.

Heather was planning a visit to Alexandria and hoped to learn more about Colonel George Gilpin's connection to the city and to visit his burial site. Her inquiry sparked a series of conversations among local historians, researchers, preservation advocates, and community members who shared an interest in Alexandria's early history.

Through email discussions and historical research, the group reviewed what was known about the Gilpin family burial plot at Christ Church Cemetery.

Historical records established that:

  • Colonel George Gilpin owned a family plot at Christ Church Cemetery.

  • His obituary stated that he was buried there.

  • His daughter, Maria (Mary) Gilpin, was also buried in the family plot.

  • Maria's gravestone remained in place.

  • Colonel George Gilpin's original gravestone had been lost.

While the documentary evidence strongly indicated that Colonel George Gilpin was buried within the family plot, there was no visible marker identifying the location of his grave.

As interest in the project grew, members of the Christ Church Vestry also became engaged in the effort. Their interest and support helped strengthen the collaboration between descendants, historians, and the church community, all of whom shared a desire to better understand, document, and preserve the Gilpin family burial site within the historic cemetery.

Confirming the Burial Location

As discussions continued among descendants, local historians, and members of the Christ Church community, a volunteer offered to conduct a ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey of the Gilpin family plot.

Before the survey was performed, Heather Ross, as a direct descendant of Colonel George Gilpin, provided her permission and support for the effort.

The GPR survey focused on the unmarked area adjacent to Maria (Mary) Gilpin's gravesite.

The results identified a burial in the location where researchers believed Colonel George Gilpin was interred. When combined with the cemetery records, family plot ownership records, obituary information, and the existing location of Maria Gilpin's grave, the findings provided strong confirmation that the unmarked grave beside Maria is the resting place of Colonel George Gilpin.

For the first time in generations, the location of Colonel George Gilpin's grave could be identified with confidence.

A Collaborative Effort

What makes the Colonel George Gilpin Restoration Project unique is the broad coalition that has formed around it. Descendants, local historians, preservation advocates, volunteers, and members of the Christ Church Vestry have all contributed to advancing the project.

Together, these individuals have helped transform a family history inquiry into a meaningful preservation initiative focused on restoring Colonel George Gilpin's memorial, preserving Maria Gilpin's gravestone, and ensuring that the Gilpin family plot remains an important part of the story of Christ Church Cemetery and Alexandria's historic past.