Laurel Hill Cemetery
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Pennsylvania state historical marker
Laurel Hill Cemetery Gatehouse in 1972
Location	3822 Ridge Avenue,Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Coordinates	40°00′14″N75°11′15″W / 40.00389°N 75.18750°W /40.00389; -75.18750
Built	1836–1839[2]
Architect	John Notman[2]
Architectural style	Exotic Revival, Gothic, Classical Revival
NRHP reference No.	77001185[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	October 28, 1977
Designated PHMC	May 20, 2000[3]

Laurel Hill Cemetery, also calledLaurel Hill East to distinguish it from the affiliatedWest Laurel Hill Cemetery inBala Cynwyd, is a historicrural cemetery in theEast Falls neighborhood ofPhiladelphia. Founded in 1836, it was the second major rural cemetery in the United States afterMount Auburn Cemetery inBoston,Massachusetts.

The cemetery is 74 acres (300,000 m²) in size and overlooks theSchuylkill River. The cemetery was designed byJohn Notman and grew to its current size through the purchase of four land parcels between 1836 and 1861. It contains over 11,000 family lots and more than 33,000 graves, including many adorned with grand marble and granite funerary monuments, elaborately sculpted hillside tombs and mausoleums.^[4] It is an accreditedarboretum with over 6,000 trees and shrubs representing 700 species.

In 1977, Laurel Hill Cemetery was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places^[5] and in 1998, became the first cemetery in the United States to be designated aNational Historic Landmark.^[6][7]

The cemetery was founded in 1836 by John Jay Smith,^[9] a librarian and editor with interests in horticulture and real estate, who was distressed at the way his deceased daughter was interred at theArch Street Meeting House burial ground in Philadelphia. Smith wrote, "Philadelphia should have a rural cemetery on dry ground, where feelings should not be harrowed by viewing the bodies of beloved relatives plunged into mud and water."^[10]

Smith joined forces with other prominent Philadelphia citizens includingBenjamin Wood Richards,William Strickland andNathan Dunn to form the Laurel Hill Cemetery Company and create a rural cemetery three miles north of the Philadelphia border on the east bank of theSchuylkill River.^[11] The group considered several locations but decided on the 32 acre^[4] former estate of businessman Joseph Sims^[2] known as "Laurel" or "Laurel Hill".^[12] The location was viewed as a haven from urban expansion and a respite from the increasingly industrialized city center. The city later grew past Laurel Hill, but the cemetery retained its rural character.

Designs for the cemetery were submitted by William Strickland andThomas Ustick Walter^[13] but the commission selected Scottish-American architectJohn Notman.^[2] Notman's designs incorporated the topography of the location and included a string of terraces that descended to the river.^[13] Notman built upon designs incorporated byHenry Edward Kendall atKensal Green Cemetery in London.^[14] The cemetery was developed and completed between 1836 and 1839.^[2] Notman designed the gatehouse which consists of a massive Roman arch surrounded by an imposing classical colonnade and topped with a large ornamental urn. A large Gothic Revival style chapel was built on the grounds but removed in the 1880s to make room for additional graves.^[13]

In 1836, the cemetery purchased a group of three sandstone statues from Scottish sculptorJames Thom, known asOld Mortality. The statues were placed in a small enclosure in the central courtyard directly in front of the main gatehouse. The statues are based on a tale bySir Walter Scott and depict Scott talking to Old Mortality, an elderly man who traveled through the Scottish Highlands re-carving weathered tombstones, along with his pony.^[15] A plaster bust of the artist, James Thom, was added to the display in 1872. The owners of the cemetery intended to equate the mission of Old Mortality with their own – to keep the cemetery in perpetual care so future generations may remember the deceased.^[4]

To increase its cachet, the cemetery's organizers had the remains of several famousRevolutionary War figures moved there, includingContinental Congress secretaryCharles Thomson;Declaration of Independence signerThomas McKean; Philadelphia war veteran and shipbuilderJehu Eyre; hero of the Battle of Princeton,Hugh Mercer; and first director of the U.S. Mint,David Rittenhouse.^{[citation needed]}

Many of the elaborate funerary monuments were designed by notable artists and architects includingAlexander Milne Calder,Alexander Stirling Calder,Harriet Whitney Frishmuth andWilliam Strickland. The monument design styles includeClassical Revival,Gothic Revival andEgyptian Revival made out of materials such as marble, granite, cast-iron and sandstone.^{[citation needed]}

From its inception, Laurel Hill was intended as a civic institution designed for public use. In an era before public parks, museums and arboretums, it was a multi-purpose cultural attraction^[16] where the general public could experience the art and refinement previously known only to the wealthy.^[17] By the 1840s, Laurel Hill was an immensely popular destination and required tickets for admission. WriterAndrew Jackson Downing reported "nearly 30,000 persons…entered the gates between April and December, 1848."^{[This quote needs a citation]}

In 1844, due to increasing popularity, Laurel Hill purchased the 27-acre former estate of juristWilliam Rawle, half a mile south and named it South Laurel Hill.^[4] In 1849, a set of iron gates on sandstone piers was built in the southeastern corner of the cemetery and served as a secondary entrance.^[4]

In 1855, thePennsylvania State Assembly authorized the cemetery to purchase an additional 10 acres from Frederick Stoever known as the Stoever Tract. TheYellow Fever Monument was built in this section in 1859 to honor the "Doctors, Druggists and Nurses" who helped fight the epidemic inPortsmouth, Virginia.^[8]

In 1860, Laurel Hill Cemetery had an estimated 140,000 people visit annually.^[18]

In 1861, the 21-acre estate of George Pepper between the two cemeteries was purchased and named Central Laurel Hill.^[4] With these additions, the cemetery reached the current size of approximately 95 acres. A bridge was built overHunting Park Avenue to connect Central and South Laurel Hill.^[19]

The cemetery association restricted who could buy lots and the majority of burials were for white Protestants. The cemetery discouraged unmarried people from buying lots in order to keep the cemetery as a family destination.^[20]

During and after theAmerican Civil War, Laurel Hill became the final resting place of hundreds of military figures, including 40 Civil War-era generals. Laurel Hill also became the favored burial place for many of Philadelphia's most prominent political and business figures, includingMatthias W. Baldwin, founder of theBaldwin Locomotive Works;Henry Disston, owner of the largest saw factory in the world (theDisston Saw Works); and financierPeter A. B. Widener.^[10]

By the mid-19th century, the creation ofFairmount Park and the encroaching city began to limit the expansion of Laurel Hill Cemetery. In 1869, John Jay Smith, the founder of Laurel Hill Cemetery, purchased 200 acres from three farms in nearbyBala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania for the creation ofWest Laurel Hill Cemetery.^[21] The first burial occurred in 1870.^[22]

In 1913, aDoric receiving vault made ofterra cotta was built in South Laurel Hill near the bridge connecting it to Central Laurel Hill.^[4]

By the 1970s, Laurel Hill Cemetery had fallen out of favor as a burial site. Many bodies were re-interred at the more suburban West Laurel Hill Cemetery and the remaining graves suffered neglect, vandalism and crime.^[23]

In 1973, Laurel Hill updated its policy and removed the prohibition on the burial of African-Americans in the cemetery.^[24]

In 1978, the Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery, a501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was founded by descendants of John Jay Smith to support the cemetery.^[10] The mission of the Friends is to assist the Laurel Hill Cemetery Company in preserving and promoting the historical character of Laurel Hill. The Friends raise funds and seek contributed services; prepare educational and research materials emphasizing the historical, architectural and cultural importance of Laurel Hill Cemetery; and provide tour guides to educate the public. The organization was instrumental in Laurel Hill Cemetery's placement on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 and designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1998.^[10]

In 2013, an 1883 bronze statue of aCivil War soldier was moved to Laurel Hill Cemetery. Cast at theBureau Brothers Foundry, "The Silent Sentry" weighs 700 pounds and stands 7 feet, 2 inches high. It was installed in 1883 at the Soldiers' Home of Philadelphia burial plot inMount Moriah Cemetery. In 1970, thieves removed the statue from its base and attempted to sell it asscrap metal to a scrap yard inCamden, New Jersey, but the scrap dealer notified the authorities.^[25] It was recovered and repaired by theMilitary Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. In 2013, the statue was installed and rededicated in Laurel Hill Cemetery.^[26]

Laurel Hill Cemetery is also an accreditedarboretum with over 6,000 trees and shrubs representing 700 species. The arboretum is a member of theAmerican Public Gardens Association.^[27]

Laurel Hill Cemetery is a popular tourist destination that attracts thousands of visitors every year for historical tours, concerts, and physical recreation.^[28]

• Tombstones for the fictional charactersAdrian Balboa andPaulie Pennino from theRocky movies sit near the main gatehouse.^[29] The Adrian Balboa tombstone was used as a prop in the 2006 movieRocky Balboa and both were used in the 2015 movieCreed.^[30] In the films, Rocky visits the gravesites in the cemetery's South Laurel Hill section.^[31]
• In 2009, Laurel Hill was a movie location for the filmsTransformers: Revenge of the Fallen^[32] andLaw Abiding Citizen.^[33]
• The 2010 young adult bookTombstone Tea^[34] by Joanne Dahme takes place in Laurel Hill Cemetery and some of the well-known people buried there, such asAdam Forepaugh andElisha Kent Kane, appear as characters.

• 
  TheHenry Disston family mausoleum is the largest monument in Laurel Hill^[35]
• 
  The monument for William J. Mullen was built by Daniel Kornbau and exhibited at the 1876Centennial Exhibition^[35][36]
• 
  The gravesite ofHarry Kalas,Philadelphia Phillies radio broadcaster, includes a microphone shaped tombstone and two pairs of seats fromVeterans Stadium^[37]
• 
  The Mother and Twins Monument was carved by Polish sculptor Henry Dmochowski-Saunders. It depicts his deceased wife Helena Schaff and their two deceased children^[38]
• 
  Polar explorerElisha Kent Kane was interred in the family's hillside tomb
• 
  Sculpture on William Warner memorial byAlexander Milne Calder depicting a woman releasing a soul from a sarcophagus^[19]
• 
  Memorial forMatthias W. Baldwin, founder ofBaldwin Locomotive Works
• 
  Memorial forRobert Patterson,Union army general during theAmerican Civil War
• 
  The tomb of historianHenry Charles Lea is adorned with a bronze sculpture ofClio, the muse of history,^[39] byAlexander Stirling Calder
• 
  Memorial forLouis Antoine Godey, editor and publisher ofGodey's Lady's Book

• List of United States cemeteries

Citations

Sources

• Keels, Thomas H. (2003).Philadelphia Graveyards & Cemeteries. Arcadia Publishing.ISBN 0-7385-1229-X.
• Smith, R.A. (1852).Smith's Illustrated Guide to and through Laurel Hill Cemetery. Willis P. Hazard.
• Warner, Ezra (1964).Generals in Blue: The Lives of the Union Commanders. Louisiana State University Press.ISBN 0-8071-0822-7.LCCN 64-21593.{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
• Yaster, Carol (2017).Laurel Hill Cemetery. Arcadia Publishing.ISBN 978-1-4671-2655-7.

Wikimedia Commons has media related toLaurel Hill Cemetery.

• Official website
• Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) documentation, filed under 3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA:
  • HABS No. PA-1811, "Laurel Hill Cemetery", 90 photos, 17 color transparencies, 114 data pages, 10 photo caption pages
  • HABS No. PA-1811-A, "Laurel Hill Cemetery, Gate House", 6 photos, 1 color transparency, 2 photo caption pages
• Laurel Hill Cemetery sculptures, Association for Public Art website
• From the collection ofThe Library Company of Philadelphia:
  • Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, 1840
  • General View of Laurel Hill Cemetery,c. 1847

• 1836 establishments in Pennsylvania
• Arboreta in Pennsylvania
• Cemeteries established in the 1830s
• Cemeteries on the National Register of Historic Places in Philadelphia
• East Falls, Philadelphia
• Historic American Buildings Survey in Philadelphia
• National Historic Landmarks in Philadelphia
• Rural cemeteries
• Tourist attractions in Philadelphia
• Yellow fever monuments and memorials

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