Burial Hill

Burial Hill is a historic cemetery perched on a rise overlooking Plymouth Harbor, holding graves that span more than two centuries of early colonial life. The grounds contain many old stone markers that tell the story of who lived and died during the founding period of American settlement.

The site initially served as a military fortification with cannons starting in 1621, then shifted to its primary role as a burial ground for the colony after 1622. This change reflects how the settlement transitioned from defensive concerns to building a permanent community.

The cemetery takes its name from the colonial period and reflects how early settlers organized their community spaces around death and remembrance. Walking through it, you can see how families marked their graves and what mattered most to them in those centuries.

The grounds are open to walk through at your own pace, with paths leading between the graves and offering views across the harbor from the hilltop. Wear comfortable shoes since the terrain is uneven and slopes naturally across the land.

The gravestone of Edward Gray from 1681 is the oldest surviving stone marker here, standing as evidence of how stone outlasts the wooden markers that came before it. Its carving and inscriptions reveal how people chose to remember their dead during this era.