Evergreen Cemetery, cemetery in Portland, Maine
Evergreen Cemetery is a large burial ground in Portland, Maine, covering nearly 240 acres since its founding in 1855. The grounds feature winding paths through wooded areas, graves marked by simple stones to elaborate monuments, and notable structures including the Wilde Memorial Chapel built in 1890 in Gothic style with granite walls and stained glass windows.
The cemetery was established in 1855 after civic leader Sylvester Beckett secured about 55 acres of woodland in 1852 to address Portland's burial space needs. Throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s, winding roads, ponds, and buildings like the Wilde Memorial Chapel were added, transforming it into a garden cemetery that later received recognition on the National Register of Historic Places.
The cemetery was designed as a Victorian garden space where mourning could be eased by nature and beauty, reflecting how people once believed in honoring the dead. Today, families still visit the graves regularly, especially on holidays, keeping the place alive as a community tradition.
The cemetery welcomes visitors during daylight hours with wide, winding paths that are easy to walk at a leisurely pace without any rush. The quiet surroundings make it suitable for a reflective stroll, and the mature trees provide shade throughout the grounds.
Beyond its role as a burial ground, the cemetery serves as a small nature preserve in the city, providing habitat for birds and small animals that find food and shelter in its open areas. This ecological aspect reveals how the historic site also supports local wildlife.
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