Laurel Hill Cemetery, National Historic Landmark cemetery in East Falls, Philadelphia, United States
Laurel Hill Cemetery is a burial ground in East Falls on the northern edge of Philadelphia that spreads across hilly slopes along the Schuylkill River. Curving paths wind between tall oaks, maples, and specimens from around the world, while polished granite mausoleums stand among simpler stones.
The site opened in 1836 as the second rural burial ground in the United States, at a time when city graveyards were filling up. Landscape designers shaped it as a park for strollers and mourners, creating a new model for cemeteries in American cities.
Families often return to older gravesites that connect generations, located in the shaded sections of the cemetery. Some monuments carry carefully carved symbols such as anchors, serpents, or columns that represent the beliefs and professions of the deceased.
Visitors can explore the main paths on their own or join guided walks organized by a local group. Most routes are walkable, though some steep sections call for sturdy shoes, especially after rain.
It became the first cemetery in the United States to receive National Historic Landmark status in 1998. This recognition emphasized its importance as an early example of park cemeteries that departed from the crowded urban burial grounds of the time.
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