Forest Lawn Cemetery

Forest Lawn Cemetery is a historically significant burial ground in Buffalo, western New York State, laid out across roughly 269 acres. The grounds include several small lakes, wide lawns, and mature tree stands that give the site a parklike character.

The site opened in the mid-19th century as one of the early rural cemeteries in the region and was later added to the National Register. Over the decades, the grounds expanded and the cemetery became part of a larger organization managing multiple sites across western New York.

The name derives from the English term for wooded terrain, and the layout follows the rural cemetery tradition with open meadows and curving paths between gravesites. Visitors move through a maintained landscape where headstones and monuments from different centuries tell the story of local families.

The cemetery remains open during daylight and is free to enter, with paths suitable for walking and touring. Orientation is aided by signage and digital maps, while the large size makes a vehicle useful for covering longer distances.

A small museum on the grounds hosts rotating exhibitions on city history that are often overlooked by casual visitors. The archive preserves documents and photographs that offer insights into Buffalo social history.

Location: Buffalo

Inception: 1849

Website: http://forest-lawn.com

GPS coordinates: 42.93080,-78.86080

Latest update: December 20, 2025 11:55