Mount Auburn Cemetery

Mount Auburn Cemetery is a historic rural cemetery located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, founded in 1831 by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, Boston Athenaeum, and Harvard University. The cemetery is the final resting place of many notable individuals, including Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and John Bartlett. It is also a popular destination for nature lovers and historians, with its beautiful gardens and historic monuments, such as the Washington Monument and the Egyptian Revival-style Bigelow Chapel. The cemetery's design and layout were influenced by the works of Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, who also designed Central Park in New York City and the United States Capitol grounds in Washington, D.C..

● History

The history of Mount Auburn Cemetery dates back to 1831, when it was founded by a group of prominent Bostonians, including Joseph Story, Nathaniel Bowditch, and George Ticknor. The cemetery was designed to be a rural cemetery, with winding paths and beautiful gardens, inspired by the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, France. The cemetery's first superintendent was Jacob Bigelow, who played a crucial role in its development and design, and was also a prominent figure in the Boston Society of Natural History. Over the years, the cemetery has been the final resting place of many notable individuals, including Isabella Stewart Gardner, William Lloyd Garrison, and Dorothea Dix, who were all prominent figures in Boston's social and cultural scene.

● Design and Layout

The design and layout of Mount Auburn Cemetery were influenced by the English landscape garden style, with its winding paths, beautiful gardens, and historic monuments. The cemetery's landscape was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, who also designed the Brooklyn Bridge and the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. The cemetery's gardens feature a wide range of plant species, including rhododendrons, azaleas, and lilacs, which were popularized by the Royal Horticultural Society and the New York Botanical Garden. The cemetery's historic monuments include the Egyptian Revival-style Bigelow Chapel, designed by Gridley James Fox Bryant, and the Gothic Revival-style Asa Gray monument, designed by H.H. Richardson.

● Notable Interments

Mount Auburn Cemetery is the final resting place of many notable individuals, including Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and John Bartlett. Other notable interments include Isabella Stewart Gardner, William Lloyd Garrison, and Dorothea Dix, who were all prominent figures in Boston's social and cultural scene. The cemetery is also the final resting place of many notable scientists, including Asa Gray, Louis Agassiz, and Jeffries Wyman, who were all affiliated with Harvard University and the Boston Society of Natural History. Other notable interments include Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., James Russell Lowell, and Julia Ward Howe, who were all prominent figures in American literature and poetry.

● Horticulture and Wildlife

Mount Auburn Cemetery is known for its beautiful gardens and diverse wildlife, with over 100 species of birds, including the American robin, red-winged blackbird, and downy woodpecker. The cemetery's gardens feature a wide range of plant species, including rhododendrons, azaleas, and lilacs, which were popularized by the Royal Horticultural Society and the New York Botanical Garden. The cemetery is also home to a variety of trees, including oak, maple, and pine, which were planted by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society and the Arnold Arboretum. The cemetery's horticultural staff, including the New England Horticultural Society, work to maintain the cemetery's gardens and wildlife, and offer tours and educational programs to the public.

● Tourism and Events

Mount Auburn Cemetery is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, with over 200,000 visitors per year. The cemetery offers guided tours, including the Historic Landscape Tour and the Notable Residents Tour, which highlight the cemetery's historic monuments and notable interments. The cemetery also hosts a variety of events, including the Annual Meeting of the Mount Auburn Cemetery and the Boston Marathon, which passes through the cemetery. Visitors can also attend concerts and lectures at the Bigelow Chapel, which features a pipe organ and a stained glass window designed by John La Farge.

● Preservation and Restoration

Mount Auburn Cemetery is a protected historic site, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated as a National Historic Landmark. The cemetery's preservation and restoration efforts are led by the Mount Auburn Cemetery Corporation, which works to maintain the cemetery's historic monuments, gardens, and wildlife. The corporation has undertaken several restoration projects, including the restoration of the Bigelow Chapel and the Asa Gray monument, and has also established a conservation easement to protect the cemetery's natural resources. The cemetery has also received funding from the National Park Service and the Institute of Museum and Library Services to support its preservation and restoration efforts. Category:Cemeteries in Massachusetts