Common Burying Ground

Common Burying Ground. The Common Burying Ground, also known as the Old Newport Cemetery, is a historic cemetery located in Newport, Rhode Island, near Trinity Church (Newport, Rhode Island), Newport Art Museum, and Redwood Library and Athenaeum. Established in 1640, it is one of the oldest cemeteries in the United States, with many notable New Englanders, including Mayflower passengers and American Revolutionary War veterans, buried within its grounds, such as William Ellery, William Bradford (governor), and Elizabeth Fones Winthrop Feake Hallett. The cemetery is also close to other historic sites, including The Breakers, The Elms (mansion), and Newport Mansions.

● History

The Common Burying Ground has a rich history, dating back to the 17th century, with many notable events and figures associated with it, including the American Revolution, French and Indian War, and the War of 1812. Many prominent Newport, Rhode Island residents, such as Nicholas Easton, William Coddington, and Thomas Hazard, are buried in the cemetery, which is also near the Newport Historic District, Washington Square (Newport, Rhode Island), and Touro Synagogue. The cemetery's history is closely tied to that of Newport, Rhode Island, with many of its residents playing important roles in the city's development, including Commodore Matthew Perry, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, and Julia Ward Howe. The cemetery is also associated with other historic cemeteries, such as Granary Burying Ground and King's Chapel Burying Ground, in Boston, Massachusetts.

● Geography

The Common Burying Ground is located in the heart of Newport, Rhode Island, near the intersection of Farewell Street and Warner Street, and is situated on a hill overlooking the city, with views of Narragansett Bay and Newport Harbor. The cemetery's geography is characterized by its rolling hills, wooded areas, and historic gravestones, which are similar to those found in other historic cemeteries, such as Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, New York, and Laurel Hill Cemetery (Philadelphia). The cemetery is also close to other notable geographic features, including Aquidneck Island, Jamestown, Rhode Island, and Middletown, Rhode Island, and is near the Newport Bridge and Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge.

● Notable_interments

The Common Burying Ground is the final resting place of many notable individuals, including Ithamar Sloan, William Ellery, Elizabeth Fones Winthrop Feake Hallett, and William Bradford (governor), as well as Mayflower passengers, such as William Brewster and Myles Standish. Other notable interments include American Revolutionary War veterans, such as Commodore Matthew Perry and Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, and War of 1812 veterans, such as Isaac Hull and Stephen Decatur. The cemetery is also the final resting place of notable Newport, Rhode Island residents, including Julia Ward Howe, Thomas Wentworth Higginson, and William Lloyd Garrison, who are buried near other notable figures, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Louisa May Alcott, in Concord, Massachusetts.

● Preservation_efforts

The Common Burying Ground has undergone significant preservation efforts over the years, including restoration work by the Newport Historic District, Newport Restoration Foundation, and The Preservation Society of Newport County. The cemetery has also been recognized by the National Park Service as a historic site, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, along with other historic cemeteries, such as Arlington National Cemetery and Gettysburg National Cemetery. The cemetery's preservation efforts are also supported by organizations, such as the Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the American Revolution, and The Colonial Dames of America, which work to protect and preserve historic sites, including Independence Hall and The Alamo.

● Cultural_significance

The Common Burying Ground holds significant cultural and historical importance, not only for Newport, Rhode Island but also for the United States as a whole, with many notable events and figures associated with it, including the American Revolution, French and Indian War, and the War of 1812. The cemetery is also a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from around the world, including Europe, Asia, and South America, who come to pay their respects to the notable individuals buried there, including Mayflower passengers and American Revolutionary War veterans. The cemetery's cultural significance is also recognized by organizations, such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation, The History Channel, and Smithsonian Institution, which work to promote and preserve historic sites, including Mount Vernon and The Hermitage (Nashville, Tennessee). Category:Historic cemeteries in Rhode Island