West Laurel Hill Cemetery

West Laurel Hill Cemetery. It is a historic garden cemetery located in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, across the Schuylkill River from its sister site, Laurel Hill Cemetery. Founded in 1869 as an expansion of the original Laurel Hill Cemetery, it became an independent entity and a premier example of the Rural cemetery movement in the United States. The cemetery is renowned for its picturesque landscape, impressive funerary art, and as the final resting place for numerous prominent figures from Philadelphia and beyond.

History

The establishment of this cemetery was driven by the immense popularity and subsequent lack of space at the original Laurel Hill Cemetery, which had been founded in 1836 as one of the nation's first major rural cemeteries. Incorporated in 1869, the new cemetery was designed by noted landscape architect John C. Sidney, who had also worked on the plans for Fairmount Park. Its development coincided with the expansion of the Pennsylvania Railroad and the growth of affluent suburbs along the Main Line, making it an accessible and desirable location. Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it became the chosen burial ground for many of the region's industrial, cultural, and political elites, reflecting the social history of Philadelphia and the Gilded Age.

Notable interments

The cemetery serves as the final resting place for a vast array of influential individuals. Political figures include John C. Bell Jr., a former United States Senator and United States Secretary of War, and William S. Vare, a powerful United States Congressman from Pennsylvania. Industrialists and financiers such as P. A. B. Widener, co-founder of the American Tobacco Company, and John B. Stetson, the famed hat manufacturer, are interred here. Cultural luminaries include celebrated actress and singer Blanche Burton-Lyles, pioneering photographer Frederick Gutekunst, and architect Wilson Eyre. Notable sports figures include Baseball Hall of Fame member Harry Wright, founder of the first professional baseball team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings.

Architecture and landscape

The grounds are a masterwork of landscape architecture, featuring rolling hills, mature trees, and scenic vistas overlooking the Schuylkill River. The design principles follow the Picturesque aesthetic championed by the Rural cemetery movement, intended for both contemplation and recreation. The cemetery is distinguished by an extraordinary collection of funerary art and mausoleums, ranging from elaborate Victorian monuments to grand Neoclassical and Gothic Revival tombs. Significant structures include the massive Classical mausoleum of the Widener family and the striking Art Deco-inspired West Laurel Hill Crematory, which was one of the first in the region.

Location and administration

The cemetery is situated at 215 Belmont Avenue in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, within Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It is managed by the Laurel Hill Cemetery Company, which also oversees the original Laurel Hill Cemetery, forming one of the most significant historic cemetery complexes in the United States. The site is easily accessible from central Philadelphia and is bordered by the Schuylkill River Trail, integrating it into the regional network of parks. Its administration is responsible for the preservation of its historic landscapes, monuments, and records, maintaining its status as an active cemetery and a protected historic resource.

Cultural significance

Beyond its primary function, the cemetery has long served as an important public space and open-air museum, attracting visitors for its artistic, historical, and horticultural value. It has been the setting for cultural events, historical tours, and educational programs that explore themes of Victorian mourning customs, funerary art, and local history. The site has been documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey and is part of a larger narrative about the development of Philadelphia's social and physical landscape. Its enduring appeal lies in its successful fusion of a serene burial ground with a significant collection of sculpture and architecture, making it a vital cultural landmark in the Delaware Valley.