Farewell To The Chief

On this episode of Farewell To The Chief (FTC), I discuss the curious case of James Madison's gravesite obelisk and how it came to be. For nearly 21 years, his lonely gravesite in the Madison family cemetery sat unmarked. Why? What reasons played a role in his gravesite going unmarked? Was it as simple as a lack of money? This episode will solve the mystery by diving into the fascinating history of Madison's obelisk.

On this episode I discuss the long tale of how George Washington's vault came to be, beginning with his death, placement in the old vault, and how he came to rest in his new vault. Along the way, I discuss how his vault was constructed in phases and the numerous federal and state efforts to have his remains removed and placed in Richmond and Washington, D.C., and the potential problems it created separating Martha and George.