Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Catholic cemetery in Aspen Hill, Maryland
Gate of Heaven Cemetery is a Catholic cemetery in Aspen Hill, Montgomery County, Maryland, with internal roads and pathways laid out in a Latin Cross pattern. The grounds offer in-ground burials, above-ground mausoleums, and columbaria, covering a range of interment options for families.
The cemetery was founded in 1928 when the Catholic Cemetery Association bought the land from the Rabbitt family. It was the first archdiocesan cemetery to open in the Washington area in 70 years.
Stations of the Cross are placed along the pathways, guiding visitors through one of the central devotional practices of Catholicism. The sculptures invite a slow, attentive walk and give the grounds a meditative quality that visitors tend to notice right away.
The pathways are well maintained and easy to walk, though comfortable shoes are a good idea if you plan to cover a large part of the grounds. Internal roads allow visitors to drive through as well, which can be helpful when looking for a specific section.
The main entrance is flanked by stone pylons that frame large wrought iron gates, which stand out as soon as you approach the grounds. These gates are one of the few features that visitors tend to comment on regardless of the reason for their visit.
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