Laurel Hill Cemetery

Laurel Hill Cemetery
Type	Historic cemetery / Landscape
Location	East Falls, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Schuylkill River)
Coordinates	40.0080,-75.1920
Area	78 acres
Established	1836
Operated by	Laurel Hill Cemetery Company
Features	Historic graves, sculpture, river views, Victorian landscape
Hours	8 AM - 4:30 PM daily
Transit	SEPTA Regional Rail to East Falls; bus 32
Website	Official Site

Laurel Hill Cemetery is a 78-acre National Historic Landmark overlooking the Schuylkill River in East Falls, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Established in 1836, it ranks among America's first rural cemeteries and stands as a masterpiece of Victorian landscape design. The cemetery pioneered the "rural cemetery movement" that profoundly reshaped park design across the nation, functioning as both a burial ground and a designed landscape for public enjoyment. Within its grounds lie the graves of numerous notable Philadelphians alongside stunning 19th-century funerary art.

Today it serves as both an active cemetery and public landscape. Visitors come to experience its history, art, and natural beauty. Every headstone here carries a story, making Laurel Hill a unique repository of Philadelphia history and artistic achievement.

History

Rural Cemetery Movement

A revolutionary 19th-century idea drove Laurel Hill's creation. That idea transformed both burial practices and public space design in America, reshaping how cities thought about death and landscape. John Jay Smith, a Philadelphia librarian and horticulturist, founded the cemetery in 1836 as a response to the overcrowded and unsanitary conditions plaguing urban churchyard burial grounds. Smith envisioned burial grounds as designed landscapes for the dead that would simultaneously be open to the living for contemplation and recreation. This concept arrived before most American cities had public parks, making rural cemeteries like Laurel Hill the nation's first significant public green spaces where citizens could escape urban congestion.

The rural cemetery movement represented something fundamental. It was a dramatic shift in American attitudes toward death, landscape, and public space. Most burials prior to this era occurred in small churchyard plots that had become dangerously overcrowded by the early 19th century, raising serious public health concerns. The new model placed cemeteries on spacious grounds outside city centers, where naturalistic landscapes could provide both sanitary burial conditions and peaceful settings for reflection.

Design Philosophy

Laurel Hill's "rural cemetery" concept embodied Romantic era aesthetics and philosophy. Rather than imposing geometric patterns, the design featured naturalistic landscape architecture with winding paths that followed and enhanced the property's varied terrain. Funerary architecture integrated seamlessly into the natural environment, creating picturesque views and contemplative spaces throughout the grounds. The cemetery's dramatic hilltop location overlooking the Schuylkill River offered the ideal canvas for this vision, with steep bluffs, mature woodlands, and sweeping vistas.

Design principles here became a model for cemetery and public park development across the United States. The curvilinear pathways, careful placement of monuments within the landscape, and preservation of natural topography influenced landscape architecture as an emerging profession. Notable landscape architects, including Frederick Law Olmsted, studied rural cemeteries when developing their designs for major public parks.

Influence

Laurel Hill's reach extended far beyond its role as a burial ground. It directly influenced Philadelphia's nearby Fairmount Park system and inspired cemetery design throughout the nation. The rural cemetery movement, with Laurel Hill as one of its premier examples, helped establish landscape architecture as a recognized profession in America and provided the conceptual foundation for the public park movement that flourished in the latter half of the 19th century. Central Park in New York, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux beginning in 1857, drew upon design principles pioneered at rural cemeteries like Laurel Hill.

National Historic Landmark Designation

The cemetery received its National Historic Landmark designation in recognition of exceptional historical and cultural significance. The designation acknowledges Laurel Hill's role in the rural cemetery movement, its outstanding collection of funerary art and architecture, and its influence on American landscape design. The intact Victorian-era landscape and remarkable concentration of artistically significant monuments make it one of the most important cultural landscapes in the United States.

Features

Landscape

The 78-acre landscape showcases exceptional Victorian-era design principles. Laurel Hill occupies dramatic bluffs rising above the Schuylkill River, with elevations providing spectacular views across the river valley. Winding carriage roads snake through the varied topography, allowing visitors to experience constantly changing vistas and intimate garden spaces. Mature trees planted in the 19th and early 20th centuries now form magnificent canopies over the grounds, while historic plantings and gardens maintain the original design intent.

The property's natural topography matters enormously. Steep hillsides, level terraces, and rocky outcroppings were carefully enhanced rather than flattened, creating the picturesque effect central to rural cemetery aesthetics. Numerous scenic overlooks provide views of the river, Kelly Drive below, and the opposite bank.

Funerary Art

One of the nation's finest collections of 19th and early 20th-century funerary art and architecture sits within these grounds. The cemetery features exceptional examples of Gothic Revival tombs with pointed arches, tracery, and medieval-inspired details. Egyptian Revival structures, reflecting 19th-century fascination with ancient Egypt, stand alongside classical sculptures executed in marble and bronze. Elaborate Victorian markers range from modest headstones with intricate carving to monumental family plots enclosed by ornate iron fencing. The cemetery's collection includes works by prominent sculptors of the period, with monuments demonstrating the highest levels of artistic craftsmanship. Alexander Milne Calder, who later created the sculptures adorning Philadelphia City Hall, contributed significant works here, along with other major artists of the era. The funerary art represents diverse architectural styles and artistic movements, functioning as an outdoor museum of 19th-century American sculpture and design.

River Views

Spectacular panoramic views from bluffs above the Schuylkill River were central to the original design. Visitors can overlook the river valley, observe activity along Kelly Drive below, and enjoy vistas of the opposite bank and Fairmount Park beyond. The seasons transform these views dramatically: spring blossoms give way to summer greenery, then autumn foliage displays, and finally winter's stark beauty. Victorian-era Philadelphians came here seeking respite from urban life, and these overlooks remain among the cemetery's most distinctive features.

Notable Interments

Distinguished Philadelphians and notable Americans found their final resting place here. General George Meade, who commanded Union forces at the Battle of Gettysburg, is buried in a prominent monument. Commodore John Barry, known as the "Father of the American Navy" for his Revolutionary War service, lies beneath an impressive memorial. Thomas McKean, a signer of the Declaration of Independence who also served as governor of Pennsylvania and Delaware, chose Laurel Hill for burial. David Rittenhouse, the renowned astronomer, clockmaker, and inventor who served as the first director of the U.S. Mint, is interred here.

Sarah Josepha Hale rests at Laurel Hill. She was the influential 19th-century editor of Godey's Lady's Book and author of "Mary Had a Little Lamb." Alexander Milne Calder, the sculptor whose works adorn Philadelphia City Hall, is buried in the cemetery whose monuments he helped embellish. The grounds also contain graves of numerous Philadelphia civic leaders, industrialists, merchants, and prominent families who shaped the city's development during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Six Philadelphia mayors, thirty-nine Civil War generals, and multiple members of the Continental Congress are buried within its grounds.

Gatehouse

The original 1836 Gothic Revival gatehouse serves as the cemetery's main entrance and visitor center. This architectural landmark, designed in the picturesque style fashionable during the Romantic era, features characteristic Gothic elements including pointed arch openings and decorative stonework. Today it functions as the starting point for tours, houses a visitor center where guests obtain maps and information, and includes a gift shop offering books and items related to the cemetery's history and art.

Visiting

Public Access

Laurel Hill welcomes visitors who wish to explore its grounds for walking and contemplation, historical research, and photography conducted respectfully. The cemetery offers both guided tours on various themes and self-guided exploration. Remember that Laurel Hill remains an active cemetery where families visit loved ones, so all guests should conduct themselves accordingly. The grounds are free to access during regular hours, making this National Historic Landmark available to everyone who wishes to experience its unique combination of history, art, and landscape design.

Hours

The cemetery grounds open daily from 8 AM to 4:30 PM, with extended hours for special events. Admission to the grounds is free, though some guided tours and special programs require advance registration and may include fees.

Tours

An extensive program of guided experiences illuminates different aspects of the cemetery's history and significance. Walking tours explore various themes including notable residents, architectural styles, horticultural features, and specific historical periods. Twilight tours provide atmospheric evening experiences of the grounds. Halloween tours and Memorial Day events have become particularly popular traditions, with the Halloween offerings typically requiring advance booking due to high demand. Private group tours can be arranged for organizations, schools, and other parties interested in customized experiences. The interpretive programming helps visitors understand the stories behind individual monuments and appreciate the site's broader historical and artistic significance.

Getting There

Laurel Hill Cemetery sits at 3822 Ridge Avenue in the East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia. Those using public transit can take SEPTA Regional Rail to East Falls Station, or ride SEPTA Bus Routes 32 or 61, both serving the area. Drivers will find parking available inside the cemetery grounds, with the main entrance accessed from Ridge Avenue. The location along the Schuylkill River makes it accessible from Kelly Drive and nearby Fairmount Park.

Tips

Stop at the gatehouse upon arrival to pick up a map showing locations of notable monuments and features. The river overlooks on the western side of the cemetery provide some of the most spectacular views and deserve a visit. Photography is welcome and the cemetery appreciates visitors documenting its art and landscape, but remember that Laurel Hill remains an active cemetery where people come to mourn and remember. Conduct should reflect appropriate respect. Guided tours significantly enhance the visitor experience by providing historical context and stories that bring the monuments to life. Those interested in the popular Halloween tours should book well in advance, as these events typically sell out.

Programs

Tours

History tours explore Laurel Hill's founding and development. Architecture tours examine the diverse styles of funerary monuments. Notable residents tours share the stories of prominent Philadelphians buried in the grounds. Themed seasonal tours take advantage of the landscape's changing appearance throughout the year, while private tours can be arranged for groups with specific interests.

Events

Memorial Day ceremonies honor those who served in America's military, with special attention to the numerous Civil War veterans buried here. Halloween events have become among the most popular programs, drawing visitors interested in the cemetery's gothic atmosphere and historical ghost stories. "Gravedigger tours" provide behind-the-scenes looks at cemetery operations and burial practices through history. The cemetery occasionally hosts concerts and performances that take advantage of the dramatic landscape setting, along with educational programs for schools and community groups.

Nearby

Laurel Hill's location in East Falls places it within Philadelphia's rich network of historic and recreational sites. Kelly Drive, the scenic roadway running along the Schuylkill River below the cemetery, provides one of the city's premier routes for cycling, running, and walking. Fairmount Park, one of the nation's largest urban park systems, lies across the river. Laurel Hill helped inspire its creation. Strawberry Mansion, a historic house museum, sits on the opposite bank. Wissahickon Valley Park, with its dramatic wooded gorge and historic structures, extends north from the Fairmount Park system.

See Also

• The Woodlands
• Mount Moriah Cemetery
• Fairmount Park
• East Falls
• Kelly Drive
• Rural cemetery
• Victorian architecture

External Links

• Laurel Hill Cemetery
• National Park Service - Laurel Hill