Old North Cemetery

Old North Cemetery. Located in the heart of Concord, New Hampshire, this historic burial ground is one of the city's oldest, established in the early 18th century. It serves as the final resting place for many prominent early citizens, including Franklin Pierce, the 14th President of the United States. The cemetery is a significant cultural landscape, offering a tangible connection to the region's colonial and Federal period history.

History

The land for the cemetery was set aside by the town of Rumford, later renamed Concord, in 1730, following a directive from Massachusetts authorities to establish a public burial ground. Its early interments reflect the community's growth from a frontier settlement into the state capital, with many graves marking veterans of the French and Indian Wars and the American Revolutionary War. The cemetery was expanded in the early 19th century and remained the primary burial site for Concord's leading families until the establishment of the State Cemetery and the more rural-style Pleasant View Cemetery in the mid-1800s, influenced by the garden cemetery movement exemplified by Mount Auburn Cemetery.

Notable interments

The cemetery is renowned as the burial site of Franklin Pierce, the only U.S. President from New Hampshire, who is interred alongside his wife Jane Means Appleton Pierce and his son Benjamin Pierce. Other significant figures include Pierce's father, Benjamin Pierce, a hero of the Battle of Bunker Hill and two-time Governor of New Hampshire. Notable political figures include Levi Woodbury, who served as a United States Senator, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, and Secretary of the Treasury, and John Taylor Gilman, a former Governor of New Hampshire. The cemetery also holds veterans from multiple conflicts, including the American Civil War, and early settlers who were instrumental in the development of New Hampshire.

Location and description

The cemetery is situated on North State Street in downtown Concord, adjacent to the grounds of the New Hampshire State House. It encompasses approximately 2.5 acres and contains an estimated 1,200 burials. The landscape features a mix of historic gravestone styles, from simple colonial-era fieldstone markers to elaborate 19th-century marble and granite monuments, obelisks, and table tombs. The site is characterized by its uneven terrain, mature trees, and an overall atmosphere of an early New England burial ground, providing a stark contrast to the surrounding government buildings and the modern cityscape.

Preservation and status

Recognized for its historical significance, the site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. Preservation efforts are managed by the City of Concord, often in consultation with the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources. Key challenges include the ongoing conservation of fragile historic monuments, managing vegetation, and interpreting the site for the public. It is considered an important educational resource for understanding the social and political history of New England and the United States, with ties to national events and figures. Category:Cemeteries in New Hampshire Category:National Register of Historic Places in Merrimack County, New Hampshire Category:1730 establishments in New Hampshire