Forest Hills Cemetery, Historic cemetery in Jamaica Plain, United States
Forest Hills Cemetery is a 275-acre burial ground in Jamaica Plain that features ponds, tree-lined paths, and numerous monuments throughout its rolling terrain. The grounds combine maintained walkways with open green spaces, allowing visitors to move between gravesites and natural areas.
The site opened in 1848 as a municipal burial ground for Roxbury and transitioned to private ownership in 1868 when Boston annexed the area. Over the following decades, the grounds evolved into a large-scale cemetery with designed landscapes and water features.
The grounds display memorial sculptures created by artists including Daniel Chester French and John Wilson, connecting the cemetery to nineteenth-century American sculptural tradition. These works give visitors a chance to see outdoor memorial art while walking through the landscaped sections.
Visitors can explore the pathways on foot, which wind through the entire property and lead through both shaded and open areas. The best months for walking are spring and fall, when trees show their colors and the weather is comfortable.
Lake Hibiscus was completed in 1861 and covers four acres within the burial grounds. The lake serves as a water feature amid the memorial landscape and attracts both birds and walkers.
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