7 Cemeteries in Pennsylvania That Became Unexpected Landmarks

Pennsylvania’s historic cemeteries offer more than just final resting places – they’ve transformed into cultural landmarks that capture the state’s rich heritage.

From stunning Victorian architecture to notable figures from American history, these burial grounds tell fascinating stories about our past.

Whether you’re a history buff, architecture enthusiast, or someone seeking peaceful green spaces, these seven Pennsylvania cemeteries deliver unexpected beauty and significance.

1. Laurel Hill Cemetery: Philadelphia’s Garden of Monuments

Perched above the Schuylkill River, Laurel Hill Cemetery stands as America’s second National Historic Landmark cemetery. Founded in 1836, this 78-acre site originated as a rural cemetery movement response to Philadelphia’s overcrowded churchyards.

Walking among the ornate Victorian monuments reveals final resting places of Civil War generals, industrial tycoons, and six Titanic passengers. The elaborate funerary art includes grand mausoleums, weeping angels, and Egyptian-inspired tombs.

Modern visitors enjoy guided tours, photography workshops, and even movie nights among the tombstones. The cemetery’s breathtaking river views and carefully preserved landscape architecture make it equally appealing to history enthusiasts and those seeking tranquil green space within the city.

2. Allegheny Cemetery: Pittsburgh’s 300-Acre Sanctuary

Nestled in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood, Allegheny Cemetery sprawls across 300 verdant acres dotted with magnificent sculptures and stately mausoleums. Established in 1844, it emerged during America’s rural cemetery movement as both burial ground and public park before the city had dedicated green spaces.

The cemetery serves as the eternal home for notable Pittsburghers including industrialist Henry Clay Frick, songwriter Stephen Foster, and baseball legend Josh Gibson. Wildlife thrives throughout the grounds – deer, foxes, and over 100 bird species inhabit this unexpected urban sanctuary.

Architectural highlights include the Butler Street gatehouse, a striking Romanesque structure built in 1889. History enthusiasts appreciate the cemetery’s Civil War section, where over 1,000 soldiers rest beneath a dedicated monument honoring their sacrifice.

3. Green Mount Cemetery: West Chester’s Hidden Historical Gem

Revolutionary War soldiers, Civil War heroes, and prominent local families share eternal residence in West Chester’s Green Mount Cemetery. Established in 1852, this peaceful 20-acre expanse features gently rolling hills adorned with marble headstones and cast-iron grave markers rarely seen elsewhere.

Towering oak trees cast dappled shadows across the grounds, creating an atmosphere both solemn and serene. Local historians treasure the cemetery for its wealth of genealogical information and architectural details that chronicle West Chester’s evolution.

Unlike larger city cemeteries, Green Mount maintains an intimate connection to the surrounding community. Annual Memorial Day ceremonies honor veterans, while preservation volunteers conduct monthly tours highlighting notable burials and Victorian mourning customs. The cemetery’s well-preserved stone chapel, built in 1863, remains available for memorial services.

4. Hollenback Cemetery: Wilkes-Barre’s Revolutionary Connection

Revolutionary War officer Matthias Hollenback established this cemetery in 1778, making it one of Pennsylvania’s oldest burial grounds. Overlooking the Susquehanna River, the hilltop location once served as a lookout post against potential attacks during America’s fight for independence.

Coal barons, civic leaders, and countless miners who built Wilkes-Barre’s economy rest beneath weathered headstones that tell the region’s anthracite story. The cemetery’s most distinctive feature remains its original wrought iron fence and ornate entrance gate, considered masterpieces of 18th-century metalwork.

Annual lantern tours bring history alive as local actors portray prominent figures buried within the grounds. Cemetery preservation efforts focus on restoring damaged monuments while documenting the stories of those interred here. Despite its age, Hollenback continues accepting new burials, maintaining its living connection to Wilkes-Barre’s evolving community.

5. The Woodlands Cemetery: Philadelphia’s Arboretum of Remembrance

Before becoming a cemetery in 1840, The Woodlands served as the lavish estate of wealthy botanist William Hamilton. His passion for exotic plants transformed the property into America’s first botanical collection, a legacy that continues with over 1,000 trees representing 150 species spread across 54 acres.

Famous residents include surgeon Philip Syng Physick (the “Father of American Surgery”), painter Thomas Eakins, and financier Anthony Drexel. The cemetery’s centerpiece remains Hamilton’s neoclassical mansion, now a National Historic Landmark that hosts exhibitions and educational programs.

Modern visitors appreciate The Woodlands’ dual identity as both cemetery and public green space. Community gardens flourish alongside historic graves, while regular events like bird-watching walks and botanical sketching classes celebrate the site’s natural beauty. The cemetery’s innovative grave-adoption program enables volunteers to care for historic monuments otherwise lost to time.

6. Easton Cemetery: Where History Meets Landscape Design

Renowned landscape architect A.J. Downing designed Easton Cemetery in 1849, creating a masterpiece of curving pathways and strategic plantings that maximize both beauty and contemplation. The cemetery occupies 87 hillside acres overlooking the confluence of the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers.

George Taylor, a Declaration of Independence signer, represents just one of many historically significant individuals interred here. Elaborate family plots feature Victorian monuments adorned with symbolic carvings – broken columns for lives cut short, clasped hands for eternal bonds, and lambs marking children’s graves.

The cemetery’s striking Gothic Revival gatehouse welcomes visitors while housing a small museum of funeral artifacts and local history. Annual events include autumn tree tours highlighting the cemetery’s champion specimens and photography workshops capturing the changing seasonal beauty. Preservation efforts focus on stone restoration and documenting the stories behind each monument.

7. Harrisburg Cemetery: A Capitol View of Pennsylvania History

Established in 1845 on a commanding hill overlooking Pennsylvania’s capital city, Harrisburg Cemetery combines spectacular views with political history. The 35-acre grounds feature ornate monuments to governors, senators, and Civil War generals against the backdrop of the state capitol dome.

Military history enthusiasts appreciate the Grand Army of the Republic plot where Union soldiers rest beneath a towering monument. The cemetery’s most photographed feature remains its Egyptian Revival gateway with massive columns and sphinx statues guarding the entrance.

Seasonal guided tours focus on different aspects of the cemetery’s heritage – from women’s history to architectural styles to military connections. The cemetery’s meticulous records provide invaluable resources for genealogists tracing Harrisburg family histories. Recent restoration efforts have focused on the caretaker’s house, now serving as a visitor center and repository for cemetery archives.