Eden Cemetery, cemetery in Collingdale, Pennsylvania, United States
Eden Cemetery is a burial ground in Collingdale, Pennsylvania, covering about 53 acres with over 90,000 graves, some dating back to the early 1700s. The grounds include various named sections and range from simple headstones to more elaborate monuments, reflecting the diversity of people resting there.
Eden Cemetery was founded in 1902 when segregation laws and discrimination prevented Black Americans from accessing respectful burial grounds and many existing facilities closed. Despite local residents blocking the entrance, the first burial took place at night, allowing the cemetery to survive and become established.
The cemetery has served as a gathering place and symbol of community resilience for Black families who were denied respectful burial options elsewhere. The different sections named after freedom fighters and leaders show how the space reflects the values and struggles that matter most to those resting here.
The grounds are open daily from 8 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon, with staff available to answer questions about burials and research. Visitors should plan to wear comfortable shoes and allow adequate time to walk the expansive grounds.
The cemetery holds graves of notable figures like opera singer Marian Anderson and civil rights leader Octavius V. Catto, whose importance became even more visible when their graves faced vandalism. In a recent act of repatriation, 19 skulls believed to belong to enslaved people from the 1800s were given proper burial here, showing the site's ongoing role in restoring dignity.
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