Allegheny Cemetery

Allegheny Cemetery is a historic rural cemetery located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, founded in 1844 by Dr. Simon Snyder, a physician and Pennsylvania State Legislature member, and designed by Joshua Sharp, a Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based architect. The cemetery is the final resting place of many notable individuals, including Stephen Foster, Lillian Russell, and William Thaw, and is situated near the Allegheny River and Riverview Park. The cemetery's design was influenced by the Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and features a mix of Gothic Revival and Italianate architectural styles, popularized by architects such as Andrew Jackson Downing and Calvert Vaux. The cemetery is also home to a number of Civil War veterans, including General James S. Negley, who fought in the Battle of Stones River and the Battle of Chickamauga.

● History

The history of Allegheny Cemetery dates back to the mid-19th century, when it was founded as a rural cemetery, a type of cemetery that was popularized by the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Mount Auburn Cemetery, designed by Henry A. S. Dearborn and Jacob Bigelow. The cemetery's early years were marked by the interment of many notable individuals, including William Robinson Jr., a Pennsylvania State Senate member, and James T. Gibson, a United States House of Representatives member from Pennsylvania's 24th congressional district. The cemetery also played a significant role in the American Civil War, with many soldiers, including those from the 14th Brooklyn Regiment and the 20th Maine Infantry Regiment, being interred there after the Battle of Gettysburg and the Battle of Antietam. The cemetery's history is also closely tied to that of the City of Pittsburgh, with many of its notable residents, including Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick, and George Westinghouse, being interred there.

● Geography

Allegheny Cemetery is situated in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, near the Allegheny River and Riverview Park. The cemetery's location provides stunning views of the surrounding cityscape, including the Pittsburgh skyline and the University of Pittsburgh campus. The cemetery is also located near several other notable landmarks, including the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and the Senator John Heinz History Center. The cemetery's geography is characterized by rolling hills and wooded areas, with many of its graves and mausoleums situated along winding roads and pathways, designed by landscape architects such as Frederick Law Olmsted and Beatrix Farrand.

● Notable_interments

Allegheny Cemetery is the final resting place of many notable individuals, including Stephen Foster, the famous American composer and songwriter, who wrote songs such as Oh! Susanna and My Old Kentucky Home. Other notable interments include Lillian Russell, the famous American actress and singer, who performed in Broadway productions such as The Merry Widow and The Grand Duke; William Thaw, the American aviator and World War I flying ace, who flew with the Lafayette Escadrille and the United States Army Air Service; and General James S. Negley, the American Civil War general who fought in the Battle of Stones River and the Battle of Chickamauga. The cemetery is also home to the graves of many other notable individuals, including William Robinson Jr., James T. Gibson, and George Westinghouse, who were all prominent figures in Pittsburgh's history, and were involved in various industries, including steel production, railroad construction, and electric power generation.

● Architecture

The architecture of Allegheny Cemetery is characterized by a mix of Gothic Revival and Italianate styles, popularized by architects such as Andrew Jackson Downing and Calvert Vaux. The cemetery's entrance gate, designed by Joshua Sharp, features a stunning example of Gothic Revival architecture, with pointed arches and intricate stone carvings, similar to those found in the Washington National Cathedral and the St. Patrick's Cathedral. The cemetery's mausoleums and graves are designed in a variety of styles, including Neoclassical, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco, and feature intricate carvings and sculptures, created by artists such as Augustus Saint-Gaudens and Daniel Chester French. The cemetery's landscape design, created by landscape architects such as Frederick Law Olmsted and Beatrix Farrand, features winding roads and pathways, wooded areas, and stunning views of the surrounding cityscape, similar to those found in the Central Park and the Golden Gate Park.

● Visitor_information

Visitors to Allegheny Cemetery can explore the cemetery's grounds, which are open daily from dawn to dusk, and take a self-guided tour of the cemetery's notable graves and mausoleums, including those of Stephen Foster, Lillian Russell, and William Thaw. The cemetery also offers guided tours, which can be arranged through the Allegheny Cemetery Historical Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the cemetery's history and promoting its cultural significance. Visitors can also attend events and concerts held at the cemetery, including the annual Memorial Day ceremony, which honors the cemetery's Civil War veterans, and the Pittsburgh JazzLive International Festival, which features performances by jazz musicians such as Miles Davis and John Coltrane.

● Cultural_significance

Allegheny Cemetery holds significant cultural and historical importance, not only for the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but also for the nation as a whole, with its connections to the American Civil War, the Industrial Revolution, and the Gilded Age. The cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated National Historic Landmark, recognized for its historic and architectural significance, and its role in the development of the rural cemetery movement, which was influenced by the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Mount Auburn Cemetery. The cemetery's cultural significance is also reflected in its connections to notable individuals, including Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick, and George Westinghouse, who played important roles in shaping the city's history and industry, and were involved in various philanthropic efforts, including the establishment of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and the Frick Art & Historical Center. The cemetery's beauty and tranquility also make it a popular destination for those seeking a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, and a place to reflect on the city's rich history and cultural heritage. Category:Cemeteries in Pennsylvania