Eastern Cemetery

Eastern Cemetery is a historic burial ground at Washington Avenue and Congress Street containing more than 4,000 marked graves and approximately 3,000 unmarked burial sites across its grounds. The layout includes different sections with varied grave markers and monuments reflecting different periods and communities.

It was established in 1668 as Portland's first burial ground and served the community as the main cemetery until 1829. A new cemetery opened that year to address space issues, though burials at this location did not stop completely.

The grounds show how different communities were separated through distinct burial areas for Anglo-Americans, African Americans, Quakers, and Catholics. Walking through these sections reveals the social divisions that shaped the city in its early years and remain visible today.

Guided walks are offered from June through mid-October when volunteers share stories and history. The grounds are accessible on foot with walkable paths, though the terrain is hilly in places.

A building called the Dead House, constructed in 1871, houses an underground City Receiving Tomb designed to store up to 80 coffins. This structure allowed the city to preserve bodies during winter months before final burial.

Location: Portland

GPS coordinates: 43.66278,-70.25083

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:02