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Go Take a Stroll Through These Six Historic Cemeteries Around Philadelphia

They’re grassy, shady, pretty — and lots of famous people are buried in them. Time for an educational graveyard day trip!

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Laurel Hill Cemetery, one of several historic cemeteries in Philly that are worth a visit. Photograph by R. Kennedy for GPTMC via Visit Philadelphia

Back when my kids were small and we lived in South Philly, my dad used to come in from the ’burbs once a week and take them off my hands for a couple of hours. He would have taken them to a playground, but the only one near us was covered in concrete and strewn with broken glass. So instead, he’d wheel them in the stroller to the cemetery at Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Trinity at 18th and Wolf, where at least there was grass. Today, graveyards are still natural refuges filled with stately trees, verdant lawns and wildflowers. (Best not to think too much on what’s fertilized them.) Here are six famous local cemeteries where you can smell clean air, soak in the sun, enjoy the shade , and even learn a bit of history.

Christ Church Burial Ground

5th and Arch streets, Old City

Christ Church Burial Grounds in Old City. Photograph by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia

This Episcopal church at 20 North American Street, founded in 1695 by William Penn’s charter, buried its dead on its grounds before establishing this two-acre cemetery in 1719. Man, that’s old. More than 4,000 early Philadelphians are buried here, including multiple signers of the Declaration of Independence and star residents Ben Franklin and his common-law wife Deborah . The current church, built between 1727 and 1744, was for nearly six decades the tallest building in what became the United States. Its baptismal font, sent here from England, is the one Penn was baptized in. There’s a very slight fee for entrance to the burial ground; tours are available for a few dollars more.

Famous residents: Colonial physician Benjamin Rush ; “Father of Modern Surgery” Philip Syng Physick ; Philadelphia Zoo founder William Camac ; Civil War Major General George Cadwalader ; “Old Ironsides” commander Commodore William Bainbridge …  Geez, so many people with the same names as streets!

Don’t miss: In the original churchyard, Revolution financier Robert Morris and “Philadelphia Lawyer” prototype Andrew Hamilton , among others.

• Laurel Hill Cemetery

3822 Ridge Avenue, Fairmount Park

Laurel Hill Cemetery, one of many historic Philadelphia cemeteries | Photo via Creative Commons

Laurel Hill was founded in the 1830s after one of the city’s prominent Quakers, John Jay Smith, couldn’t find space to bury a beloved daughter in his meetinghouse’s crowded Cherry Street cemetery. Unaffiliated with any religion and located on a hillside above the Schuylkill — the river, not the not-yet-born Expressway — it was in the vanguard of a new sort of graveyard, intended to offer peaceful respite from the urban press. Scottish architect John Notman conceived of the design as a sort of “estate garden” intended for hanging out, with winding paths, scenic vistas, and plentiful landscaping. Steamboats used to ply the river filled with city dwellers coming to Laurel Hill to bask in nature, picnic, and enjoy carriage rides.

Famous residents: They got your Biddles, your Bouviers, your Furnesses, your Leas, Whartons, Wideners, Wisters …

Don’t miss: The mighty mausoleums along Millionaires’ Row; sculptures by City Hall’s William Penn statue sculpture Alexander Milne Calder ; the headstone for fictional Rocky spouse Adrian Balboa .

Eden Cemetery

1434 Springfield Road, Darby

Octavius Catto’s headstone in Eden Cemetery | Photo via Creative Commons

The oldest existing Black-owned cemetery in the nation, Eden was opened in 1902 as Philadelphia’s answer to a burial crisis in Philadelphia’s Black community created by “segregation, urban expansion, public works projects, vandalism, condemnation, and the closure of earlier Black burial grounds and cemeteries.” At the time, the opening of the burial ground was contentious, as racist white Collingsdale residents blocked the entrance in protest of the addition of a “a colored burial ground” to the area. Nonetheless, the first burial took place two days later, and the 53-acre property now serves as a final resting place for more than 90,000 individuals. The cemetery is also now on the National Register of Historic Places and is part of the Pennsylvania Hallowed Grounds Project and the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.

Famous residents:  Abolitionist Octavius Valentine Catto ; Underground Railroad conductor (and author of The Underground Railroad Records ) William Still ; architect Julian Abele; opera singer Marian Anderson ; medical doctor Rebecca J. Cole; conductor James DePreist; poet and abolitionist Frances Harper; John Taylor, the first African American to win an Olympic gold medal, in 1908; and Henrietta Duterte, owner of a funeral home that was a stop on the Underground Railroad.

Don’t miss: The GoFundMe organized by the cemetery to support its efforts to conserve and digitize its records.

Mount Moriah Cemetery

6201 Kingsessing Avenue, Southwest Philly

Mount Moriah Cemetery, one of Philly’s historic cemeteries that was begun in the 1850s. Photograph by pwbaker/Flickr

This graveyard, the largest in Pennsylvania, straddles Cobbs Creek, with half in Yeadon and half in Philly. Begun in the 1850s, it was open to Christians, Jews and Muslims as well as African Americans and was accessible by streetcar. The last living member of its board died in 2004, and the cemetery closed in 2011, after the grounds had suffered years of neglect. A nonprofit Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery  organized to maintain the grounds and gravesites, and Orphans Court appointed a receivership, which is executing a renewal plan.

Famous residents: Flag seamstress Betsy Ross (though she was reinterred at her home in Old City in 1976); military fabulist Augustus Buell ; circus performer Richard Risley Carlisle ; the four Gale ballerinas , English sisters who burned to death in a tragic fire at the National Theater in 1861; musician John Whitehead , of McFadden and Whitehead (as in “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now”).

Don’t miss: What remains of the splendid gatehouse ; the thousands of graves of veterans in the Naval Plot and Soldiers’ Lot , a separate section of the cemetery maintained by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs.

Mikveh Israel Cemetery

822 Spruce Street, Washington Square West

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Zachary Chung Pun (@zacharypun)

Jewish traders in North America flocked to Philadelphia as it grew to be the colonies’ busiest city. One ex-New Yorker, Nathan Levy, arrived in town in 1737; just a year later, when his young child died, he bought a plot to establish the nation’s oldest Jewish burial ground. The series of synagogues eventually built nearby became the center of the city’s Jewish life. In 1956, the site became part of Independence National Historic Park.

Famous residents : Founder Nathan Levy ; Revolutionary War spy and financier Haym Solomon ; brothers Simon and Hyman Gratz , at whose house Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence (Simon was one of the founders of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts); Jewish soldiers from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the Civil War, including Phillip Moses Russell , commended by George Washington for his services at Valley Forge.

Don’t miss: The grave of Rebecca Gratz , a philanthropist and great beauty said to have been the inspiration for the character of Rebecca, heroine of the Sir Walter Scott novel Ivanhoe .

The Woodlands

4000 Woodland Avenue, Southwest Philly

The Woodlands, one of Philly’s historic cemeteries that originated as a private estate. Photograph by J. Fusco for GPTMC via Visit Philadelphia

This 54-acre oasis was once the estate of William Hamilton (1745-1813), a wealthy botanist who modeled its mansion and grounds on those he saw on a visit to England. After his death, a company of investors bought it and turned it into a cemetery. The winding paths are always full of walkers and joggers in good weather, and there are a number of State Champion trees at this National Historic Landmark District.

Famous residents: Husband-and-wife artists Thomas and Susan McDowell Eakins ; architect Paul Philippe Cret ; Campbell Soup founder Joseph Campbell ; abolitionist Mary Grew ; sculptor William Rush ; illustrator Jessie Willcox Smith ; surgeon Samuel David Gross (of The Gross Clinic Eakins painting); members of the Drexel and Biddle (and Drexel Biddle ) families.

Don’t miss: The “cradle graves,” decorative mini-gardens atop plots that have been planted by present-day volunteers with flowers and shrubs popular in the Victorian era.

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16 historic and notable Philly cemeteries, mapped

There's more to these cemeteries than graveyards

Editor's note: This article was originally published in October 2016 and has since been updated with the most recent information. Molly Web contributed to this map.

Philly's own Benjamin Franklin once said, "Show me your cemeteries and I will tell you what kind of people you have." Based on those wise words, this city's people have been hard-working, patriotic, and regarded of utmost esteem for decades upon decades. Philadelphia is filled with certified historic cemeteries dating back to the late 1600s, where our founding fathers like Franklin himself have been laid to rest, and we've rounded up 16 of them right here. Some of them are neglected and downright spooky, while others have been beautifully maintained throughout history.

Did we miss a historic cemetery? Leave a comment or send us a tip and we'll add it to the list!

Christ Church Cemetery

No list of Philly cemetaries would be complete without the burial ground of Philly's forefather, Benjamin Franklin. Though he himself was not a Christian, he's buried in one of the city's most historic church cemeteries. Although for years visitors and tourists threw pennies on his grave in commemoration of his saying, "A penny saved is a penny earned," that tradition was put to halt after the grave began to crack . The good news is that his headstone has since been restored. Just keep your pennies to yourself.

• Open in Google Maps

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kristen Leigh Turner (@kleightgram) on Jan 4, 2017 at 8:18pm PST

Old Pine Cemetery

If you look closely at the gravestones in this cemetery, you'll notice bullet holes from when British soldiers took over the church and used the tombstones for target practice. The Old Pine Street Church itself was constructed in 1764, and is one of the oldest Presbyterian churches in Philly.

It also happens to have some of the most interesting grave markers. Take a stroll through and learn fascinating stories about people’s lives from hundreds of years ago.

Mount Moriah Cemetery

Mount Moriah Cemetery occupies a sprawling 200-some acres at the western edge of the city. While it technically closed in 2011, the group Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery have been working for the past few years to restore the extensive cemetery , which is where Betsy Ross was originally laid to rest.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mount Moriah Cemetery (@mountmoriahcemetery) on Sep 29, 2018 at 8:57pm PDT

Laurel Hill Cemetery

Much like Mount Moriah, Laurel Hill Cemetery is a pastoral burial ground where Philadelphia's famous and ordinary citizens are buried side by side, including famed architect Frank Furness. The gatehouse was built in 1835, the cemetery offers stunning views of the Schuylkill River. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Laurel Hill Cemetery (@laurelhillcemetery) on Sep 22, 2018 at 12:00pm PDT

The Woodlands Cemetery

Located right across from the 40th Street Trolley portal, the Woodlands is also historic and dates back to 1786 when William Hamilton shaped the land into a horticultural garden and built a stunning neoclassical mansion. Today, the burial ground is still active—a popular program called Woodland Grave Gardeners lets volunteers adopt a grave and plant Victorian-era plants.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Woodlands (@woodlandsphila) on Aug 15, 2019 at 11:33am PDT

Mikveh Israel Cemetery

The Mikveh Israel Cemetery was established in 1740 and is the oldest Jewish cemetery in the city. It’s just a 30x30 lot, but notables such as Haym Salomon, who was a key figure in the American Revolution, and Nathan Levy, whose ship brought the Liberty Bell to America, are buried here.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tammy Hepps (@tammyalexandra) on Dec 2, 2013 at 4:23am PST

Hood Cemetery

Established in 1692, Hood Cemetery, also known as the Lower Burial Ground of Germantown, is one of the oldest cemeteries in Philadelphia, and one of the oldest historical sites in Germantown. The stone gate was put up in 1842 by Germantown resident William Hood, who is buried here along with 41 soldiers of the Revolutionary War.

Gloria Dei Church National Historic Site

Known to many as Old Swede's Church, this national historic site is one of the oldest churches in the nation, dating back to 1700. Swedish settlers, Revolutionary War and Civil War veterans, and sea captains are buried in the cemetery, which has been in use since the 1700s, as well.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kyle Patterson (@polrimages) on May 9, 2018 at 11:51am PDT

Philadelphia National Cemetery

This Germantown cemetery is one of the nation's 14 original cemeteries established in 1862. Originally, it was actually composed of numerous lots of land, used as internments for soldiers who died in nearby hospitals during the war. That makes its landscape, which was inspired by designer Frank Law Olmstead, different from the typical cemetery. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

Greenwood Knights of Pythias Cemetery

In 1869, architect Thomas Levy imagined a rural cemetery with rolling hills, a lake, and natural plantings in keeping with the rural cemetery movement of the 19th-century. Those grandiose plans never happened, however, and instead this historic cemetery fell into disrepair and victim to vandalism. Today, it's under new management and is undergoing revitalization so that families can visit their loved ones buried here.

Mt. Sinai Cemetery

Like Mikveh Israel Cemetery (#6), Mt. Sinai Cemetery is one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Philadelphia, dating back to 1854. While the cemetery itself is not certified historic, the Frank Furness-designed mortuary chapel certainly is.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by . (@shadowvoidd) on Oct 10, 2016 at 10:16am PDT

Byberry African American Cemetery

Byberry Cemetery was only recently designated historic a few years ago. Its historic name is "Burying Place for All Free Negroes or People of Color within Byberry Twp," and it was established sometime around 1780. Today, it's a neglected lot of land overrun by foliage, but still protected by the city's Register of Historic Places.

Fair Hill Burial Ground

This cemetery in Fair Hill dates all the way back to 1703, when it was founded by the Religious Society of Friends. It's had some ups and downs over the years and has changed hands over the years, but prominent abolitionists are buried here and it remains one of two Quaker burial grounds in Philly's city limits.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by john (@ghostenthusiast) on May 4, 2016 at 6:01pm PDT

Palmer Burial Ground

Originally known as the Kensington Burial Ground, this cemetery dates back to 1747. Wealthy merchant Anthony Palmer established it as a burial ground for residents of his neighborhood. A number of Revolutionary War heroes are laid to rest here.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chris White (@reelchriswhite) on Mar 20, 2015 at 8:53am PDT

Mount Vernon Cemetery

This cemetery is located just across the way from the famous Laurel Hill Cemetery, but it's taken a very different path. Mount Vernon Cemetery dates back to about the same time that Laurel Hill opened. It features a prominent gatehouse that was designed by John Notman, the same architect who designed Laurel Hill's. However, the cemetery has greatly deteriorated over the years despite a group's best efforts to restore the grounds, and it is currently closed to the public. Actor Drew Barrymore's great grandfather, as well as soldiers and signers of the Declaration of Independence are laid to rest here.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jen Von Haunt (@jenvonhaunt) on Feb 28, 2016 at 4:12pm PST

Eden Cemetery

Some 90,000 African Americans are buried in Eden Cemetery, which lies just few miles outside of Philly's city limits in Collingdale. Octavius Catto's grave is here, as is architect Julian Abele , the first black graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Design who went onto play a major role in designing the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Little is known about the history of Eden Cemetery, despite its immense size and notable citizens buried within its 23 sections. But its ties to African-American Philadelphians of the 19th century were considered significant enough for it to be added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.

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Laurel Hill and West Laurel Hill Cemeteries

Who’s who of deceased Philadelphia in a magnificent setting...

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Location & Contact:

• 3822 Ridge Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19132
• (215) 228-8200
• Visit Website

Visiting historic Laurel Hill and West Laurel Hill evokes a bygone era when cemeteries were built intentionally in scenic areas, and visitors would come to walk the grounds not in mourning but to see the wondrous architecture and peaceful landscapes.

High above the Schuylkill River, a slew of the famous folks buried here are people who prospered from Revolutionary times to the late 20th century.

Laurel Hill houses the remains of Thomas McKean, a signer of the Declaration of Independence; Sarah Josepha Hale, the woman credited with establishing Thanksgiving as a national holiday and author of “Mary Had A Little Lamb”; and Matthais Baldwin, the locomotive magnate.

West Laurel Hill, across the river, serves as the final resting place for modern figures like members of the Calder sculpting family and publisher Cyrus Curtis.

Admission is free.

The History

Laurel Hill Cemetery was the first architecturally designed cemetery in the country.

Laurel Hill Cemetery was laid out on a series of winding paths above the Schuylkill River in 1836 — intended to not only be a non-denominational burial place, but also a scenic sanctuary for the living.

It lays claim to being the first architecturally designed cemetery in the country.

Laurel Hill became the cemetery of the elite and was a popular burial place for Civil War generals, including George Meade, the Union victor at Gettysburg. Victims from the Titanic are also buried here.

West Laurel Hill opened after Laurel Hill started becoming too crowded.

Don’t Miss

A monthly walking tour of the cemetery — aptly named Hot Spots and Storied Plots — gives visitors the can’t-miss inside scoop on some of the folks buried there.

Also, don’t miss out on exploring the great architecture of many of the tombstones and mausoleums. The William Warner tomb at Laurel Hill, designed by Alexander Milne Calder, the sculptor of the William Penn statue atop City Hall, shows the soul coming out of the tomb in a puff of smoke.

In the warmer months, guests can even enjoy yoga classes or run the annual RIP 5K through the cemetery.

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A guide to historic cemeteries and graveyards in the Philadelphia region

Where to go to learn about the history behind Philadelphia's most well-known cemeteries and burial grounds.

Let’s face it: Cemeteries aren’t the first place you think of for fun. But in reality, cemeteries are actually pretty lively places. Deceptively quiet, they speak volumes about the history, social mores, politics, and culture of their eras. They tell the stories of the wealthy and the wanting, scholars and scoundrels, patriots and the poverty-stricken.

For generations, cemeteries have been places for families to come together and for solo visitors to wander and enjoy a peaceful environment.

In Philadelphia, there’s a wide range of burial grounds to explore. You can see the graves of famous people like Ben Franklin and Walt Whitman, take part in cleanup activities, attend themed performances, or go for long walks or runs in a peaceful space.

But, not all cemeteries in Philly announce themselves. “Up through the colonial era, many people were laid to rest in a burial ground owned by their church,” explains Adaeze Nwoko, an educator at Christ Church Burial Ground. “But many people without means were put in mass graves — [known as] potter’s fields.” In this area, some of our favorite parks and public spaces, including Washington Square and Franklin Square, are former potter’s fields.

Other cemeteries that are now surrounded by bustling Philly neighborhoods were once surrounded by peaceful countryside. By the mid-19th century, as city space became tighter, burials were pushed out further from the heart of the city to undeveloped, more rural areas. Ironically, many of those “rural” cemeteries are now in the middle of densely populated neighborhoods.

Stroll through a cemetery, and you can see how different eras imposed their aesthetics on people’s final resting places. The Victorian era laid the groundwork for modern burial practices, its fashionable swirls and flourishes easy to spot. Nobody loved an ornate flourish like the Victorians, and unlike the simpler headstones of the colonial era, graves at Laurel Hill along Kelly Drive and the Woodlands off of Baltimore Avenue are chockablock with elaborate embellishments and detailed symbolism.

“Victorians had a lot to say,” says Nancy Goldenberg, president and CEO of Laurel Hill Cemetery, which is renowned for its spectacular mausoleums and grave markers. “They just preferred not to say it out loud. They used symbols — obelisks, wreaths, urns, anchors, and other icons — to say what they didn’t speak.”

Crowds flocked to see the elaborate tombs and headstones, meeting up for Sunday picnics and to escape the chaos of city life. Others just wanted a quiet place to enjoy a peaceful walk and take in the lush horticulture.

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And, today, they still do.

Cemeteries are still community gathering spaces, home to self-guided and guided tours, concerts, family events, genealogical research, and other community activities. And while COVID-19 wreaked havoc on many scheduled events and indoor gatherings, activity at cemeteries has been booming.

“Throughout all of this, we had kids who were learning to ride bikes, we had runners, walkers, and people who just wanted a peaceful place to enjoy nature,” says Jessica Baumert, the Woodlands’ executive director.

In other words, they’re full of life. Here are some cemeteries in the region worth checking out:

Arlington Cemetery

Don’t let the peaceful environment at Arlington Cemetery fool you, this place has a very dramatic past. Once owned by the abolitionist Garrett family, the former farmland was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Check out the cemetery office where you can learn about the family’s abolitionist activities. Throughout the grounds, which are popular among local runners, bikers, and walkers, you can see a mausoleum that is a scale model of Jefferson ’s Monticello and the graves of a former Miss America, a Titanic survivor, and numerous Medal of Honor recipients. GreenHorn Gardens has taken over the cemetery’s unused greenhouse and hosts a farmers market and classes in sustainable farming. But you’ll have to leave the pup at home: No dogs are allowed. The cemetery also hosts many events, from movie nights to 5K runs and Halloween activities.

📍 2900 State Rd., Drexel Hill , 📞 610-259-5800, 🌐 arlingtoncemetery.us , 🕑 Daily, dawn-dusk, 🎫 Free

Christ Church Burial Ground

Yes, it is a popular tourist destination — it is Benjamin Franklin’s final resting place, after all — but Christ Church Burial Ground is also a must-see spot for locals. The burial ground packs enough 18th- and early-19th-century American history into its 2 acres to fill tomes. But skip the textbooks and opt for a guided tour. You’ll get the stories on the early American who’s who that are buried here, including five signers of the Declaration of Independence, several pioneers of medicine, numerous Revolutionary and Civil War heroes, even the lone Jewish soldier who was carried there for an honorable burial. Self-guided tours are an option but the guided tours are much more fun and informative. For a guided tour, you should call ahead to confirm your spot. Finally, just give in and bring a penny to toss on Franklin’s grave — it’s how people honor the man who famously stated “a penny saved is a penny earned.”

📍 Fifth and Arch Streets , 📞 215-922-1695, 🌐 christchurchphila.org , 📷 @historicchristchurchandbg , 🕑 Wed.-Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m., 🎫 $5 for guided or self-guided tours, children (12 and under), $2

Eden Cemetery

When the Collingdale community learned of the plan to develop Eden Cemetery — a Black cemetery — in 1902, the protests were loud and long, forcing the first burial to take place under cover of night. One of the nation’s oldest Black-owned cemeteries, Eden was originally created as a reinterment cemetery to give Black people, particularly those who had been cast into mass graves, a dignified final resting place.

“Eden is really like a museum that just happens to be a cemetery,” says Craig Stutman, a history professor at Delaware Valley University and chair of the Toni Morrison Society’s Bench by the Road Project . A memorial honoring the First Colored Troops is at the cemetery entrance, and Eden is home to a long list of notable folks from Black arts, culture, and business communities. Pick up a self-guided tour brochure at the office to find the graves of renowned opera singer Marian Anderson, abolitionist William Still, poet Frances Watkins Harper, and the Rev. Charles Tindley, who is credited with writing the song that was the basis for the anthem “We Shall Overcome.” . You’ll also find grave markers and headstones honoring activist Octavius Catto and the members of the First African Baptist Church whose bodies were discovered during the construction of I-676 and reinterred here. Wear comfy shoes: Eden has sweeping hills which make for beautiful pictures and a good aerobic walk. Dogs aren’t permitted. Call to schedule a guided tour or to do genealogical research.

📍 1434 Springfield Rd., Darby , 📞 610-583-8737, 🌐 edencemetery.org , 🕑 Daily, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., 🎫 Free, donations encouraged

Harleigh Cemetery

On any given day, you might find a fellow poetry lover wandering Harleigh Cemetery’s grounds. Established in 1885, the Camden cemetery is the final resting place for the celebrated poet Walt Whitman who spent his final years in a small home nearby. Whitman himself designed the family’s granite mausoleum, which is notched into the hillside and surrounded by giant old trees, an ideal spot to sit and read from Leaves of Grass . The lakeside paths will lead you to another man of letters, the father of American haiku, poet Nick Virgilio. His grave marker is easy to spot: His poem Lily is carved into its face. Pick up a map to find their graves, as well as those of jazz drummer Charlie Rice, political activist Ella Reeve “Mother” Bloor, and others. The office is closed to the public but if you call, they’ll bring a map to you.

📍 1640 Haddon Ave., Camden 📞 856-963-3500, 🌐 harleighcemetery.com , 🕑 Daily, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., 🎫 Free

Laurel Hill Cemetery

Laurel Hill is picturesque: The hilltop setting overlooking the Schuylkill , the ornate Victorian-era headstones, the elaborate mausoleums that make up Millionaire’s Row, where many of Philadelphia’s wealthy elite are entombed, and more than 620 species of trees (including several state champion trees), are great spots to photograph. “When John Smith created Laurel Hill in 1836, he advertised this as a place where the public could come to escape the city, breathe in the fresh air, have picnics, and enjoy the outdoors,” says Nancy Goldenberg, its president and CEO. “Basically, Laurel Hill is a precursor of public parks.” In keeping with Smith’s vision, Laurel Hill, which includes West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, hosts a wide variety of activities including movie nights, concerts, and programs that range from the deeply serious to downright cheeky. The Hot Spots and Storied Plots tour will give you an overview of Laurel Hill while the Sinners and Scandals tour regales you with tales of some of the shadier folks who reside there. Laurel Hill keeps records of each of the more than 70,000 people buried on the premises. You can tour Laurel Hill on your own — fliers and maps are available at the office — or take one of the many themed guided tours.

📍 3822 Ridge Ave. , 📞 215-228-8200, 🌐 thelaurelhillcemetery.org , 🕑 April-October, 7 a.m.-7 p.m., November-March, 7 a.m.-5 p.m., 📷 @laurelhillcemetery , 🎫 Free for self-guided tours, prices vary for guided tours

Mikveh Israel Cemetery

There’s a lot of history behind the elaborate wrought-iron gates at the entrance to Mikveh Israel cemetery, the city’s oldest Jewish cemetery. “During the 18th century, Philadelphia was one of the rare places in the world where Jews and Christians intermingled freely, socialized freely, and worked hand-in-hand on civic projects,” says historian and Benjamin Franklin reenactor Mitchell Kramer. Many early Jewish leaders are buried here. One of the best-known: Haym Salomon who not only helped fund the Revolution, but also provided interest-free personal loans to Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and others. You can also find the grave of Rebecca Gratz, the philanthropist who was the muse for the character in Ivanhoe , and also helped establish the first secular charity. Also here: The Gratz family, who helped create the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and Col. Benjamin Nones, who was the highest-ranking Jewish officer in the Continental Army and an ally of Thomas Jefferson’s. Mikveh Israel’s walk-up tour program is on hiatus, but you can call and book a guided tour to get all the lesser-known stories.

📍 831 Spruce St. , 📞 215-922-5446, 🌐 mikvehisrael.org , 🕑 visits and tours by appointment, 🎫 Free

Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church

Although Mother Bethel has been closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, keep it on your must-see list for the future. Built on the nation’s oldest Black-owned plot of land, Mother Bethel is not only the mother church for the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church, it is the final resting place for its founder, the Rev. Richard Allen and his wife, Sarah. According to church archivist Margaret Jerrido, Allen was originally buried in front of Mother Bethel but was reinterred at Eden Cemetery. Then, honoring the wishes of the Allen family, he and Sarah were moved back to their current location in the tombs on the church’s lower level. Adjacent to the crypts, you can tour the small museum that houses artifacts including Allen’s personal bible, the wooden pulpit from which he preached, candlesticks from his home, and wooden pews from the church’s second location. The church has not yet announced reopening dates, but check back as more pandemic restrictions lift.

📍419 S. Sixth St., 📞 215-925-0616, 🌐 motherbethel.org

Mount Moriah Cemetery

Bring your camera and lace up some sturdy shoes. With more than 200 acres of rolling, swirling hills, and a diversity of foliage that makes it a level-one arboretum, Mount Moriah makes for a stunning photo backdrop, as well as a challenging place for walks and bike rides. Most cemeteries are sculpted flat, but Mount Moriah covers a vast topography that spills over from Kingsessing into neighboring Yeadon. “Philadelphia is a city of neighborhoods and Mount Moriah is a cemetery of neighborhoods,” says Bill Warwick, vice president of the board of directors. “Where Laurel Hill catered to the wealthy, this was an everyman’s burial ground. And it was unusual in that it welcomed all religions and races.” Book a tour — they are free but donations are welcomed — and find out about the “is she/was she buried there” Betsy Ross drama. And participate in the cemetery’s restoration at monthly cleanup and grass-cutting events held on the first Saturday of every month. Look for the annual Darksome Arts and Crafts Festival in October which benefits the restoration efforts.

📍 6201 Kingsessing Ave. , 🌐 fommci.org , 🕑 Fri.-Mon., 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., weekday tours by request, 📷 @mountmoriahcemetery , 🎫 Donations encouraged

Mt. Sinai Cemetery

Philly shoppers from back in the day will recognize the names of the retail royalty buried at Mt. Sinai: the Gimbel family, the Lit brothers, the Snellenburgs, the Tellers of Bonwit Teller. Even Manny, Moe, and Jack of the Pep Boys. “We are like a park in a densely populated neighborhood,” says Mitchell Kramer, historian and cemetery board member. “People come here to walk, run, or just look at the gardens. We’re a low-key but essential neighborhood asset, especially during COVID when people needed to connect with nature.” Founded in 1856, Mt. Sinai is still an active cemetery, which means you’ll see everything from simple grave markers carved with Yiddish and Old German script and the Frank Furness-designed mortuary to stylish mausoleums with Moorish and Egyptian design details and the new Tranquility Garden that has no grave markers at all. “Our mission here is to honor the past with an eye to the future,” says Kramer. Leashed dogs are permitted and cleanup bags are required. Call to book a guided tour of the cemetery or to access genealogical records.

📍 1901 Bridge St. , 📞 215-886-8430, 🌐 mtsinaicemetery.org , 🕑 Daily, dawn-dusk, 🎫 Free

Washington Square

When William Penn created Washington Square (originally known as Southeast Square) in his city plan, he couldn’t have foreseen its use as a public burial ground. And he certainly couldn’t have imagined a tree would grow there from seeds that were once taken to the moon. During the 18th century, it was nicknamed Congo Square and was one of the few places where enslaved Black people could gather to celebrate their African music, dance, and culture. There was also a darker, bleaker side to the Square: It became a potter’s field where soldiers, sailors, convicts, and enslaved people were buried in mass graves. Even more dead were buried there during the 1793 yellow fever epidemic. While thousands of people lie beneath the manicured lawns, the only marked grave is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which was installed when the square was restored in 1956. As for the “moon tree,” it has also, sadly, passed on.

📍 210 W. Washington Square , 🌐 nps.gov , 🕑 24 hours, 🎫 Free

Washington Crossing Historic Park

At this historic Bucks County park, headstone after headstone reads “Unknown Soldier.” It isn’t certain exactly how many Colonial soldiers are buried beneath the grounds by the Thompson-Neely House at Washington Crossing Park. “The markers there are an approximation and representation of the number of bodies,” notes Gaetano Sava, park visitor services coordinator. “There may be as many as 60 unknown Colonial soldiers buried on the grounds.” During their encampment at the house while plotting the famous Christmas Day attack on Trenton in 1776, Gen. George Washington’s troops suffered crushing losses from disease and bitter-cold temperatures. After you’ve paid homage to the men who gave their lives in the cause of American independence, book a tour of the Thompson-Neely House and Gardens ($7). Then, cross the Delaware Canal path and hike or bike to heart of Washington’s Crossing Park to tour the historic village, enjoy a picnic, or tour Bowman’s Hill Tower.

📍 1112 River Rd., Washington Crossing , 📞 215-493-4076, 🌐 washingtoncrossingpark.org , 📷 @washingtoncrossingpark , 🕑 Daily, dawn-dusk, 🎫 Free, select tours available for an additional cost

The Woodlands

One of the first things you’ll notice at the Woodlands are the trees. So. Many. Trees. Prior to becoming a cemetery in 1840, the West Philly estate was owned by William Hamilton (and the mansion still stands tall in the middle of the cemetery), an accomplished amateur horticulturist who brought the first ginkgo trees to America. “We have more than 1,000 trees here,” says Jessica Baumert, executive director of the Woodlands. “Our canopy is so dense, thermal readings have shown its impact on temperature and air quality extends to several surrounding blocks.” Utilize the Woodlands’ Tree Finder online tool to help you identify each tree’s species. And where there are trees, there are birds, so bring your binoculars. New to birding? Pick up the Woodlands bird guide at the cemetery office then stroll through the brick-lined paths.

Beyond nature, you’ll find some richly detailed headstones as well as the graves of notables such as artist Thomas Eakins, numerous members of the Drexel (as in Drexel University ) family, journalist Anne Hampton Brewster, and Paul Philippe Cret, who designed the Rodin Museum and parts of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. COVID-19 has affected some of the Woodlands’ extensive programming, but there are still many family-oriented events, wellness programs, performances, gardening programs, and other activities on the books.

📍 4000 Woodland Ave. , 📞 215-386-2181, 🌐 woodlandsphila.org , 📷 @woodlandsphila , 🕑 Daily, dawn-dusk, 🎫 Free

» READ MORE: Live your best life in Philly: Read our most useful stories here

Expert sources

• Adaeze Nwoko , educator, Christ Church Burial Ground
• Nancy Goldenberg , president and CEO, Laurel Hill Cemetery
• Jessica Baumert , executive director, the Woodlands
• Margaret Jerrido , archivist at Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church
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The Friends of Laurel Hill create dozens of innovative events year-round that engage visitors with our sites. Programs and tours reflect the diverse aspects of our organization, and revenue raised supports the Friends’ mission to preserve the historic cemeteries so they can continue to be enjoyed by all.

Death Education & Awareness

Through both in-person and virtual programs, we invite the public to engage in natural curiosity, personal reflection, and dialogue about the topics of death and dying. We partner with death care practitioners, grief workers, artists, authors, and community members across cultures and belief systems to create collaborative learning spaces. We seek to empower participants with information and resources to support end-of-life planning, whether for themselves or a loved one, and through workshops, panel discussions, open forums, and other programs we work to address mortality from frameworks of history and social justice.

Arts & Cultural Events

During the Victorian era when Laurel Hill was founded, it was common for the public to spend recreational and social time in rural cemeteries. In that spirit, the Friends of Laurel Hill curate and host several shows and events throughout the year that invite creativity and life into the cemetery, from live music, immersive theatre, and circus; to programs for families and children; to our annual Outdoor Cinema Series and Market of the Macabre.  We work with artists to curate performances that are not only enjoyable but which honor, celebrate, educate, and look critically at the many histories our sites hold.

Nature & Horticulture Programs

The wellness benefits of being outdoors are innumerable, and we offer public programs that seek to provide education and access for everyone to the beautiful green spaces we steward. From seasonal arboretum tours to presentations and workshops on topics such as eco-mindfulness, birding, native plant identification and care, Victorian floriography and more, we invite visitors to learn about and enjoy the natural environment from our knowledgeable horticulture and arboretum staff as well as local experts.

General History Tours

The Friends of Laurel Hill began their public programming nearly 50 years ago with tours of Laurel Hill East, now a national historic landmark. General History tours continue at both locations year-round, with Hot Spots & Storied Plots at Laurel Hill East on the second Saturday and fourth Friday of every month, and Sacred Spaces & Storied Places at Laurel Hill West on the fourth Saturday of every month. These tours are the perfect introduction for anyone who enjoys beautiful art and fascinating history.

Thematic Tours

In addition to General History, we offer thematic tours throughout the year that are as varied as those buried here. Our tour guides illuminate the lives of permanent residents and the time periods they lived in, highlighting love (and not-quite-love) for Valentine’s Day, Philadelphia’s brewing history with Pints & Plots, veteran stories over the course of history, grave sculptures and symbolism, musical legacies, and even the stories behind mysterious graves and curious deaths.

Pocket of Paradise Walking Tour

Join us for a special walking tour outside of Laurel Hill East (offered 4x a year). Highlights include the history of original settlers, rise and fall of Dobson Mills, as well as the second phase of the industrial revolution that included household names such as Pep Boys, Tastykake and Penn Reels. This tour will be led by Hidden City, Paradise residents and the Friends of Laurel Hill. The Friends of Laurel Hill gratefully acknowledges support from PNC Arts Alive, the Connelly Foundation and the RAH Civic Association for this support of the creation and development of the Pocket of Paradise Walking Tour.

Boneyard Bookworms Book Club

The official book club of Laurel Hill. The club will meet once per month on the grounds of Laurel Hill East or Laurel Hill West.

There is no fee to join or attend but registration for each session is required. To offer a unique perspective, each month’s discussion will be led by a different representative of one of the cemeteries whose areas of interest and expertise vary.

Virtual Programming

The COVID-19 pandemic allowed us to expand our audiences beyond the physical boundaries of our cemeteries and we continue to host virtual tours of the cemeteries and lectures highlighting our horticultural endeavors and history.

The Friends of Laurel Hill present free virtual programs year-round on topics such as history, horticulture, end of life planning and death awareness, author lectures, and more. To watch recordings of past programs, click here .

Autumn Activities

Though our cemeteries are beautiful to visit all year, fall in the cemeteries is unparalleled. From mid-September through early November, visitors can enjoy outdoor theatre, Soul Crawl nighttime history tours, True Tales from the Tombs where actors portray Laurel Hill’s permanent residents, and fun for the whole family at Fall Family Day.

History Tours | Ghost Tours

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Philly's Highest Rated | Rescheduling is always free

Join Philadelphia's highest rated History and Ghost Tours for an 8pm nightly mature-audience evening with our R-Rated historians and professors. 

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Grim Philly has been honored by Trip Advisor with their Traveler’s Choice BEST of the BEST highest Award which is given to less than 1% of 8 million activities worldwide. Trip Advisor has ranked Grim Philly’s Dark Philly Adult Night Tour as the #4 Cultural or Themed tour across the world, #25 of ALL activities in the entire United States, and needless to say #1 ranked of any possible activity you could choose across our own city here in Philadelphia.

We are honored and humbled by the recognition and thank every one of you who has encouraged, helped, and been with us along the way these many years.

Philadelphia Walking Tour has unlimited rescheduling

Welcome to Philadelphia's Best Walking Tour and the highest rated History Tour in Philadelphia (11am and 2pm daily for all ages). We also have the highest rated Best Ghost Tour in Philadelphia and our Dark Philly Adult Night Tour is a Dark History Walking Tour in Philadelphia that runs every night at 8pm all year-round and is for mature-audiences.

 Every one of our Philadelphia Walking Tour guides have a history degree and most are historians and professors. Listen to the Best Podcast in Philadelphia - the award-winning Grim Philly Podcast in Philadelphia for even more.

Our Philadelphia walking tours bring you to every major historical site of the American Revolution for something Fun to do in Philadelphia today.

Our Saturday True-Crime and History Tour of Philadelphia is our extension for even more Philadelphia Sightseeing not covered on our other History Tours, Dark History Tours, and Ghost Tour in Philadelphia.

There is always free and indefinite rescheduling for our History Tour, our Dark Philly history tour by night, and our Ghost Tours in Philadelphia so email us at any time!

Listen here also for new episodes of Philadelphia's Best Podcast, Grim Philly Podcast in Philadelphia, for even more!

History Tours in Philadelphia | Ghost Tours in Philadelphia | Philadelphia's Best Podcast all-in-one.

Philadelphia Walking Tours

    - Anthony Bourdain   (RIP)

"The Grim Philly Tour is just my speed, a romp through the seedy vermin infested underside of our nation's heritage, oh yeah! Our guide takes us to Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and all that. But, quickly gets down and dirty with what you wanna hear; about all the drinking, carousing, and whore-mongering our founding father's were doin. And, the fine woman they were doin it with."     

Grim Philly has been honored by Trip Advisor with their Traveler’s Choice BEST of the BEST Award given to less than 1% of 8 million activities worldwide. Trip Advisor has ranked Grim Philly’s Dark Philly Adult Night Tour as the #4 Cultural or Themed tour across the world, #25 of ALL activities in the entire United States, and needless to say #1 ranked of any activity to choose across our own city of Philadelphia.

Fun things to do in Philadelphia

Dark Philly Adult Night Tour

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Year-Round.

Revolution & The Founders History Tour

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• View or Download a Cemetery Brochure!

Green Mount Cemetery welcomes visitors.  Maps and other materials can be obtained at the Cemetery Office located on the right side of the Entrance Gate; charges for cemetery burial records helps cover the cost of production.

All visitors are asked to sign in at the office.

Visitors are encouraged to set their own pace on a self-guided walking or driving tour. Featuring more than 75 of the most visited gravesites; the tour provides an intriguing look into the history of Baltimore.

View our Virtual Map and Visitors Brochure Here

Guided tours are being offered by Baltimore Heritage Baltimore Heritage https://baltimoreheritage.org/events/ 410-332-9992

From birdwatchers to Civil War historians, Green Mount Cemetery attracts groups with a wide variety of interests.

Tour groups (10 or more in the group) wishing to visit Green Mount Cemetery on their own are asked to schedule their visit at least two weeks in advance by calling the Cemetery Office at (410) 539-0641.

Hours of Operation

The Cemetery office and grounds are open Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. Grounds only are open on Saturday, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Closed Sundays. In cases of inclement weather, please call before visiting.

Holiday Schedule

• New Year’s Day – Closed
• Martin Luther King Day – Closed
• President’s Day – Closed
• Palm Sunday – 9:45 a.m. – 1:15 pm (grounds only)
• Easter Sunday – 9:45 a.m. – 1:15 pm (grounds only)
• Mother’s Day – 9:45 a.m. – 1:15 pm (grounds only)
• Memorial Day – 9:45 a.m. – 1:15 pm (grounds only)
• Father’s Day – 9:45 a.m. – 1:15 pm (grounds only)
• *July 4 th  –  Closed
• Labor Day – Closed
• Thanksgiving Day – Closed
• * Christmas Day – Closed

* Should the holiday fall on a weekend, the Cemetery will be closed either Friday or Monday, so please call prior to your visit.

Suggestions for visiting

• Wear comfortable walking shoes.
• Take a stroll down “Oliver’s Walk”.
• Enjoy the view of the city skyline from the southwest side of the Chapel.
• Restroom facilities are located at the Entrance Gate.

Green Mount Cemetery is a place of national significance.  Please help us maintain its beauty and dignity by observing the following rules of etiquette:

• Parking is permitted along the sides of all roadways.
• Please drive carefully. Speeds should not exceed 15 mph.
• We ask that groups wishing to visit the Cemetery schedule their visit at least two weeks in advance.
• Buses may park on the apron in front of the Entrance Gate, but are not permitted inside the Cemetery.
• PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH OR LEAN ON GRAVESTONES. DUE TO AGE OF GRAVESTONES, TOPPLING IS A POSSIBLE HAZARD. PLEASE DO NOT WALK ON HILLSIDE VAULTS. DUE TO AGE & INSTABILITY IT IS A POSSIBLE HAZARD.
• Show respect for the deceased and for their surviving families and loved ones.  Do not intrude on funeral services.  Do not bring alcohol, firearms, or entertainment items into the Cemetery.  Always be considerate of others.
• Well-behaved children under the direct supervision of responsible adults are welcome.  Running, playing, and noisy activities are not appropriate.
• Pets are not permitted.
• Please do not litter.
• Photographs (but not films) can be taken but they are not to be published commercially or on social media, and the photographer shall not identify the site, location or specific subject matter depicted in any such photograph. Photographing funerals is prohibited.
• Filming or other audio-visual recordings are prohibited.
• Please plan your visit so that you can exit the Cemetery no later than 3:45 PM.

Directions to the Cemetery

• Get 7 Days Free

Cemeteries get a new lease on life as dog parks, antique markets and picnic grounds

By Jessica Hall

'As cemeteries run out of space, they are going to have to adapt or die'

At the Historic Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C., the best-attended events these days aren't graveside services or even Memorial Day remembrances. The biggest draws to the burial grounds are a community dog group and events like the Pride Run.

"As cemeteries run out of space, they are going to have to adapt or die. They're becoming more community centers, and transitioning away from being solely a cemetery," said A.J. Orlikoff, director of programming at the Historic Congressional Cemetery.

It's not blasphemy; it's good business.

"It's always going to be a place of reverence and respect. We like to have fun and celebrate life, of course, but we're always going to have reverence for those who came before us," Orlikoff said.

At a time when people's preferences for death care have swung from formal burials to alternative ones - more than half are opting for things such as interring ashes with a planted tree or building an ocean reef with cremated remains - cemeteries are changing to meet society's new tastes.

"Cemeteries [are] still a big business, as [are] monuments and headstones, but [this] will plateau and then likely even decline as consumer behavior and sentiment shift," said Suelin Chen, co-founder and chief executive of Cake, an online platform for end-of-life planning and bereavement support.

"Many people don't live close to where they grew up, so a lot of baby boomers do not envision their children and grandchildren flying to visit their headstone at a cemetery. In addition, people have environmental concerns as well. With these changes, cemetery owners want to make it more of a destination and a good experience for families," Chen said.

Rather than just providing spooky Halloween events on cemetery grounds, cemeteries now present programming all year round to attract different visitors.

Far from solemn or macabre, many cemeteries today are embracing everything from film screenings to festivals, artists-in-residence or pets at play in order to stay relevant and connect with communities - and in some cases garner donations and sales leads for future permanent residents, as those interred are called.

Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia started its public programs in 1978 when the Friends of Laurel Hill nonprofit arm was created. It now offers movie screenings and a book club, a "Market of the Macabre" featuring antiquities and oddities, and an antique hearse and ambulance show.

Cemeteries make money by selling plots; opening and closing graves; and installing and maintaining headstones, crypts and grave markers. Industry revenue in the U.S. has grown at a compound annual rate of 6.5% over the past five years, and will reach an estimated $7.3 billion in 2024, according to market researcher IBISWorld.

Even as people consider alternative burials and shift away from formal cemetery burials, cemeteries still need funds to maintain graves and grounds. Having a connection to the community brings in volunteers and donations that can help the cemetery thrive long after the last body has been buried.

At the Historic Congressional Cemetery, 10,746 people attended events in 2023, generating $173,827 in income. A crew of 315 volunteers contributed 3,067 hours of labor to the cemetery that year, which was equivalent to more than $97,530 in savings at the federal volunteer rate of $31.80 an hour, according to the cemetery's annual report.

The cemetery, which is the resting place of such notable historical figures as J. Edgar Hoover and John Philip Sousa, had income of about $2.1 million and expenses of about $1.6 million in 2023. While the biggest chunk of that income, $719,480, was generated by site sales and burials, a sizable portion, $270,000, came from the K9 Corps, the cemetery's fee-paying program for dog walkers. It got additional funds from contributions and grants, fundraising and the disbursement of the endowment.

Read: What should I do with my body when I die? The options go way beyond burial and cremation.

Founded in 1838 and now a National Historic Landmark, the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn was one of the first rural cemeteries in America. By the early 1860s, it had earned an international reputation and had become a prestigious place to be buried, attracting 500,000 visitors a year, second only to Niagara Falls among U.S. tourist attractions at that time.

"Cemeteries will always be places where we memorialize the departed. But cemeteries are expanding their role as parks and green spaces," said Harry Weil, vice president of education and public programming at Green-Wood. "We're going back to our Victorian roots. It's not macabre. It's communing with nature and those who came before us."

Today, Green-Wood attracts about 450,000 visitors a year to its 478 acres, encompassing hills; glacial ponds; walking paths; and 580,000 permanent residents including Leonard Bernstein, Boss Tweed, Louis Comfort Tiffany and Horace Greeley, as well as Civil War generals, baseball legends, politicians, artists, entertainers and inventors. It offers trolley tours, birding tours, an artist-in-residence, death education and concerts.

These supplemental events build community and in some cases can turn into significant moneymakers.

When dogs saved the cemetery

Cortney Fisher has been a K9 Corps member and Historic Congressional Cemetery volunteer for about eight years, drawn by the history and access to green space. In her volunteer role, she helps put on events at the cemetery.

"I don't see it as abnormal or creepy. I know qualitatively it's different, but to me, it brings life to this place, Fisher said. "I've been to other cemeteries, and they're kind of stale, dead spaces. This is not. It's very alive. It's a special place to be buried in."

The Historic Congressional Cemetery credits the dog walkers for rescuing the cemetery from disrepair decades ago, bringing daily eyes and ears to a cemetery then struggling with vandalism and crime. They helped clean up the cemetery and raised funds to do much-needed landscaping.

"Dogs saved the cemetery," Orlikoff said. "They're part of our DNA. It's part of how we celebrate life in D.C."

Another hallmark of the congressional cemetery is the annual DC Front Runners Pride Run 5K, which will be held in June. The event evolved out of the dedicated LGBTQ+ section of the cemetery and celebrates those buried there who fought for equality. "We think they would absolutely be delighted to see people celebrating openly - the way many of them couldn't do in their lifetimes," Orlikoff said.

Growing community

Philadelphia's Laurel Hill features 117 different walking tours, attended by 1,400 people a year, as well as private tours. Tour themes include "From Death Do Us Part," which relates love stories among the permanent residents, and "Unsinkable to Unthinkable," which focuses on the Titanic passengers buried at the cemetery.

Here, the events aren't about growing revenue but about building community and raising awareness of the space.

"It does generate a lot of feet on the ground in the cemetery," said Nancy Goldenberg, chief executive of Laurel Hill. "The programs are not driving the bottom line. They're not driving profits or [serving as] revenue generators. It costs money to do the programming. Foot traffic is the path to other things - seeing [the cemetery's] history, joining the Friends of Laurel Hill."

Still, it's an active cemetery with available burial plots, so volunteers and tour participants can evolve into burial-plot sales leads, she said.

In 1836, the founder of Laurel Hill started the cemetery because he saw the poor conditions under which a relative was buried at a church graveyard in the center of Philadelphia and wanted to create a different, more bucolic option away from the dense development of the central city.

"Pack a picnic and get out of the city. Enjoy trees and experience nature. Who wants to be buried in a dirty city?" Goldenberg said of the 19th-century thinking. "Cemeteries were meant to be parks - they were the lungs of the city."

There is programming for healing, loss and grief at Laurel Hill, including a horticultural therapy program where participants can create wreaths for graves. "People can come here and heal. It's a comforting place," Goldenberg said. "We work hard to invest to become good stewards of these places."

Laurel Hill comprises two cemeteries over a total of 265 acres with 200,000 permanent residents. Laurel Hill East was the first cemetery designated a National Historic Landmark, while Laurel Hill West is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Cemetery laws differ by state, but in Pennsylvania, 15% of the burial fee goes into a permanent fund to maintain roads and common areas. Families can also buy an endowment for a plot if they want it landscaped in a certain way, have flowers placed on birthdays or anniversaries, or have a monument cleaned on a certain schedule.

Chuck Michalek, a volunteer project director with the Friends of Bohemian National Cemetery in Chicago, said cemeteries today can be both places of recreation and places of reverence. He's also a trustee for the Bohemian National Cemetery Association.

Bohemian National offers tours and concerts, for which it accepts donations to the Friends of Bohemian National, a 501(c)3 arm.

"A lot of cemeteries are like history museums for the city. They reflect the changes in society and groups and leaders. It's an outdoor, historical scrapbook that reflects the changing communities with different evolutions of demographics of a community," Michalek said.

The cemetery has a "Beyond the Vines" wall that replicates the ivy-covered outfield wall at Wrigley Field that's pitched as a final resting place for fervent Chicago Cubs fans. It's a columbarium, which is like a mausoleum for urns.

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Monster trucks to crush Philly this weekend. How to get in on the ‘Jam'

This is the most monster 'jam'iest guide to monster trucks -- including grave digger -- invading lincoln financial field in philadelphia on may 4, 2024, that you'll find, by dan stamm • published may 2, 2024 • updated on may 3, 2024 at 7:51 am.

The real monsters come out in South Philadelphia this weekend as giant -- dare we say "Monster" -- trucks take over Lincoln Financial Field.

Grab your earplugs as Grave Digger, Megalodon, El Toro Loco, Kraken, Bad Company, Jester and the rest of the Monster Jam trucks (and drivers) roar at Monster Jam's Stadium Championship East event on May 4, 2024 .

Looking to experience the roar? Here's your guide to getting tickets and even getting a chance to get up close to the monster trucks:

When does Monster Jam in South Philly start?

Get Philly local news, weather forecasts, sports and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC Philadelphia newsletters.

There are several tiers of timed admission to keep in mind for Saturday, May 4, 2024. The Pit Party starts at 9:30 a.m., doors to The Linc opens at 11 a.m., trackside access begins at 11:15 a.m. and the action begins at 1 p.m., according to Monster Jam .

Trackside access includes driver interviews, behind-the-scenes with pit crews, giveaways, opening ceremonies and more.

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"The Stadium Championship Series East features 12 skilled athletes battling for the championship while tearing up the dirt in intense competitions of speed and skill," Monster Jam said in a news release.

The drivers will compete in "Racing, 2 Wheel Skills and Freestyle" during the 2-hour program. Megalodon's Todd Leduc said part of the competition includes fans voting for trucks through their phones.

Here's the list of each driver and truck slated to participate Saturday:

• Bad Company - John Gordon
• Black Pearl - Cole Venard
• El Toro Loco - Jamey Garner
• Grave Digger - Tyler Menninga
• Great Clips Mohawk Warrior - Bryce Kenny
• JCB DIGatron - Tristan England
• Jester - Matt Pagliarulo
• Kraken - Nick Pagliarulo
• Luca Stabilizer - Linsey Read
• Max-D - Cody Saucier
• Megalodon - Todd Leduc
• Shaker - Ryan Disharoon

How can I buy tickets to Monster Jam in Philly?

Unless you're 2 and under, you'll need to pay for the full seat, but you'll only be using the edge.

Tickets start at $37.40, including fees, on Ticketmaster.com . It'll cost you more to sit close, with front row seats still up for grabs in the days leading up to the event for $170 each, before fees.

Sorry to be a party pooper, but Pit Party pregame tickets are sold out. So are the tickets to the Post-Event Driver Meet & Greet .

How loud might it actually get?

The 5-ton (or more) machines can produce quite a lot of noise. Average noise levels of 95 to 100 A-weighted decibels (dBA) are expereinced at monster truck rallies, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Noisy Planet project . "Exposure to sounds that are 85 dBA or louder can damage your hearing and put you at risk for noise-induced hearing loss."

You can bring your own ear protection, or purchase there: "Our concessions staff sells Monster Jam-branded novelty ear protection and disposable ear plugs while supplies last at each event. You may bring your own from home," Monster Jam says in its FAQs .

Luckily, the open air stadium should help some of the noise escape, but not the excitement.

Did you know?

Monster Jam is produced by Feld Entertainment , the same live touring production company behind other family-friendly events like Disney on Ice, Marvel Universe LIVE!, Sesame Street Live! and Jurassic World Live Tour,

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