Bradley renamed it Clover Hill,[3] and built a large home in the northeast corner of the land.

Bradley entertained some of the city's most notable residents, including Senator Henry Clay.

Close, William S. Humphreys, Randolph S. Evans, and George Clendenin purchased the 90-acre (360,000 m2) Clover Hill from Junius J. Boyle for $9,000 for the purpose of creating a secular cemetery.

[5] On July 27, 1854, Congress passed legislation granting a congressional charter to and establishing The Proprietors of Glenwood Cemetery.

Close became the sole owner of Glenwood Cemetery, with Clendenin continuing to act as superintendent.

When the District of Columbia assessed property taxes on the 60 acres (240,000 m2) of unimproved land, Close argued that the entire site was dedicated to cemetery use.

[8] The new congressional charter required that 25 percent of the proceeds from the sale of lots should be paid to the original 12 investors, with the remainder being used to maintain the cemetery.

The layout for Glenwood Cemetery was designed by George F. de la Roche, a civil engineer.

De la Roche drew primary inspiration for Glenwood from Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

[1] A portion of the grounds remained undeveloped by the time the American Civil War broke out.

[1] A large number of nationally and locally important individuals were buried in Glenwood Cemetery during its history.

But in 2011, researchers discovered that D.C. firefighter John G. Anderson died in the line of duty on March 11, 1856—two months before Greenup.

[16] Another important figure buried at the cemetery was Constantino Brumidi, who painted the frescos in the United States Capitol.

The images were inspired by Revelations chapter 20, verses 1–3: And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain.

He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended.