On the eastern bank of the Skukil River in Philadelphia, amidst green hills and the shadows of ancient trees, lies Laurel Hill Cemetery — one of the most famous and refined burial sites in the United States. Established in 1836, it has become not only a final resting place for prominent figures but also a historic and cultural site that combines memorial art, landscape design, and spiritual contemplation. In 1998, Laurel Hill was recognized as a National Historic Landmark, a distinction that only underscored its unique status.
Laurel Hill Cemetery emerged as a response to the chaotic, overcrowded, and unsanitary urban cemeteries that became a serious problem for growing American cities in the first half of the 19th century. John James Smith, an enterprising businessman from Philadelphia, was inspired by the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris and decided to create in America a new type of cemetery — spacious, picturesque, open for walks and meditation.
The idea of a “rural” cemetery was to relocate burial sites outside the city, designing them as aesthetic parks where the living could contemplate the memory of the deceased in a dignified and natural environment. Laurel Hill became the first necropolis in the USA designed as a public landscape park — with paths, trees, sculptures, and zones for peaceful relaxation.
The cemetery is situated on hills offering stunning views of the Skukil River, and the territory itself harmoniously fits into the natural terrain. It is divided into sections, each with its own spatial logic, artistic composition, and atmosphere.
Architectural landmarks: Here you can see majestic mausoleums, Gothic vaults, classical obelisks, and marble sculptures that carry not only memorial but also artistic value. Many monuments were created by renowned architects and sculptors, each unique in its symbolism and style.
Natural landscaping: Well-maintained alleys, century-old trees, seasonal flower beds, and diverse vegetation create a sense of a garden temple where life and death coexist in harmony.
Laurel Hill is an open pantheon gallery of American history. It is the resting place of hundreds of distinguished individuals whose contributions shaped not only the fate of Philadelphia but that of the entire country.
- Thomas McKean — one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, a politician, and a statesman of the revolutionary era.
- Henry Diston — an industrialist who founded one of the most famous pockeet manufacturing companies in the USA.
- General George Gordon Meade — a hero of the Battle of Gettysburg, who played a key role in the Union’s victory during the Civil War.
- Eliza Leslie — a writer and author of cookbooks that influenced tastes and everyday life of American society in the 19th century.
In addition to them, political figures, inventors, doctors, artists, and numerous war veterans — from the War of Independence to 20th-century conflicts — are laid to rest here.
Today, Laurel Hill Cemetery is a open-air museum where visitors can study memorial sculpture art, learn about the biographies of historical figures, reflect on the flow of time and the beauty of eternity. It remains an example of how a burial place can become a space of life, memory, and dialogue between generations.
Current information:
Address: 3822 Ridge Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19132, United States
Phone: +1 (610)-668-9900
