Mount Pleasant Cemetery, cemetery in Taunton, Massachusetts
Mount Pleasant Cemetery is a roughly 10 acre cemetery in Taunton shaped like a diamond and located between Crocker, Cohannet, and Barnum Streets. It features laid-out walking paths, open lawns, and mature trees that create a calm setting for graves ranging from simple stones to more elaborate monuments.
The cemetery opened in 1836 and was one of the first garden cemeteries in the United States, inspired by Victorian design that emphasized calm and natural surroundings. The oldest graves date from 1710 and belong to the King family, with later burials including soldiers from various wars, generals, admirals, and prominent local leaders who helped shape Taunton.
The cemetery's name Mount Pleasant reflects the Victorian idea of creating a peaceful place for reflection and remembrance. The way visitors tend to and decorate the graves shows how much these families value honoring their ancestors and keeping their memory alive.
The cemetery is open to the public and can be explored on foot, with the main entrance on Crocker Street featuring a wrought iron gate from 1926. It is best visited during good weather when the paths are clear and the trees provide shade.
Joseph Wilbar, the landscape designer from Easton, created the cemetery's layout in 1836 following Victorian garden principles, which was his only known design project. The cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002, recognizing its age, design, and lasting importance to the community.
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