Mount Pleasant Cemetery, cemetery in Newark, New Jersey
Mount Pleasant Cemetery is a large burial ground in Newark covering roughly 40 acres with old gravestones, mausoleums, and extensive green spaces. The grounds display monuments in various styles including Romanesque, Egyptian Revival, Victorian, and Gothic designs, all set among tall evergreens, horse chestnuts, dogwoods, sycamores, lindens, and maples.
The cemetery was established in 1844 with Elizabeth Jaques recorded as the first person buried on July 1, while graves from the 1600s were relocated here as nearby burial grounds became full. The grand entrance gates of local brownstone were designed by architect Thomas Stent in 1877 and underwent full restoration in 2005.
The cemetery reflects Victorian ideals that connected nature with remembrance. The winding paths are named after trees and flowers, showing how the past valued natural beauty, and this naming tradition still shapes the peaceful, park-like feeling of the place today.
The grounds are open to the public for walks along marked paths where visitors can view old graves and monuments in a peaceful setting. The extensive green spaces and shade trees throughout the property provide a comfortable environment for spending time outdoors while learning about the history of the community.
The cemetery holds the graves of Thomas Edison and his first wife Mary Stilwell, a detail many visitors overlook. This burial location connects the story of one of the nation's most influential figures to the quiet grounds and reveals how major national figures rest in Newark.
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