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 is one of America's first rural cemeteries and a masterpiece of Victorian landscape design. Laurel Hill pioneered the "rural cemetery movement" that profoundly influenced park design nationwide, serving as both a place of burial and a designed landscape for public enjoyment. The cemetery contains the graves of numerous notable Philadelphians and stunning 19th-century funerary art.

Laurel Hill is both an active cemetery and a public landscape, welcoming visitors to experience its history, art, and natural beauty. As documented in recent coverage, every headstone at the cemetery has a story to tell, making it a unique repository of Philadelphia history and artistic achievement.

History

Rural Cemetery Movement

Laurel Hill Cemetery emerged from a revolutionary 19th-century idea that transformed both burial practices and public space design in America. Founded in 1836 by John Jay Smith, a Philadelphia librarian and horticulturist, the cemetery was established as a response to the overcrowded and unsanitary conditions of urban churchyard burial grounds. Smith envisioned burial grounds as designed landscapes for the dead that would also be open to the living for contemplation and recreation. This concept predated the creation of public parks in most American cities, and rural cemeteries like Laurel Hill served as the nation's first significant public green spaces where citizens could escape urban congestion.

The rural cemetery movement represented a dramatic shift in American attitudes toward death, landscape, and public space. Prior to this movement, most burials occurred in small churchyard plots that had become dangerously overcrowded by the early 19th century, raising 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

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

The design principles employed at Laurel Hill became a model for cemetery and public park development across the United States. The cemetery's 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 influence extended far beyond its role as a burial ground. The cemetery directly influenced the development of 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. New York's Central Park, 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

Laurel Hill Cemetery was designated a National Historic Landmark in recognition of its exceptional historical and cultural significance. The designation acknowledges the cemetery's role in the rural cemetery movement, its outstanding collection of funerary art and architecture, and its influence on American landscape design. The cemetery's 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 cemetery's 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. The original design incorporated winding carriage roads that 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, with steep hillsides, level terraces, and rocky outcroppings, was 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

Laurel Hill contains one of the nation's finest collections of 19th and early 20th-century funerary art and architecture. 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. Notable sculptural works include pieces by Alexander Milne Calder, who later created the sculptures adorning Philadelphia City Hall, and other significant artists of the era. The funerary art represents diverse architectural styles and artistic movements, creating an outdoor museum of 19th-century American sculpture and design.

River Views

The cemetery's elevated position on bluffs above the Schuylkill River provides spectacular panoramic views that were central to its 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. These views change dramatically with the seasons, from spring blossoms to autumn foliage displays. The scenic quality of these overlooks made Laurel Hill a popular destination for Victorian-era Philadelphians seeking respite from urban life, and they continue to be among the cemetery's most distinctive features.

Notable Interments

Laurel Hill Cemetery serves as the final resting place for many distinguished Philadelphians and notable Americans. General George Meade, who commanded Union forces at the Battle of Gettysburg, is buried here 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 as his burial place. David Rittenhouse, the renowned astronomer, clockmaker, and inventor who served as the first director of the U.S. Mint, is interred in the cemetery.

Sarah Josepha Hale, the influential 19th-century editor of Godey's Lady's Book and author of "Mary Had a Little Lamb," rests at Laurel Hill. Alexander Milne Calder, the sculptor whose works adorn Philadelphia City Hall, is buried in the cemetery whose monuments he helped embellish. The cemetery also contains the 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. The gatehouse now functions as the starting point for tours, houses a visitor center where guests can 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 in a respectful manner. The cemetery offers both guided tours on various themes and self-guided exploration. Visitors are encouraged to experience the landscape, monuments, and history while remembering that Laurel Hill remains an active cemetery where families visit the graves of loved ones. The grounds are free to access during regular hours, making this National Historic Landmark available to all who wish to experience its unique combination of history, art, and landscape design.

Hours

The cemetery grounds are 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 have associated fees.

Tours

Laurel Hill offers an extensive program of guided experiences that illuminate 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. Special event tours during Halloween and Memorial Day have become particularly popular traditions, with Halloween tours 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 cemetery's 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 is located at 3822 Ridge Avenue in the East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia. Visitors using public transit can take SEPTA Regional Rail to East Falls Station, or ride SEPTA Bus Routes 32 or 61, both of which serve the area. Those driving will find parking available inside the cemetery grounds, with the main entrance accessed from Ridge Avenue. The cemetery's location along the Schuylkill River makes it accessible from Kelly Drive and nearby Fairmount Park.

Tips

Visitors should stop at the gatehouse upon arrival to pick up a map showing the locations of notable monuments and features. The river overlooks on the western side of the cemetery provide some of the most spectacular views and are worth seeking out. While photography is welcome and the cemetery appreciates visitors documenting its art and landscape, all guests should remember that Laurel Hill remains an active cemetery where people come to mourn and remember loved ones, and 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

The cemetery offers history tours exploring Laurel Hill's founding and development, architecture tours examining the diverse styles of funerary monuments, and notable residents tours sharing 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

Laurel Hill hosts Memorial Day ceremonies honoring those who served in America's military, with special attention to the numerous Civil War veterans buried in the cemetery. 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. Across the river lies Fairmount Park, one of the nation's largest urban park systems, which Laurel Hill helped inspire. 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