Here lies a story etched in stone, the story of Laurel Hill Cemetery. Founded in 1836, it offered an alternative to overcrowded churchyards. Cities along the eastern seaboard were rapidly expanding. As the nation’s living populace grew, so too did its dead.
Laurel Hill Cemetery became a pioneer in the rural cemetery movement. This movement reflected changing attitudes toward death. Burial grounds were often paved over. They were removed to clear land for roads and buildings.
Scottish architect John Notman designed Laurel Hill. He used the riverside location to his advantage. Early managers encouraged personal expression in monument design. Families responded with grand and elaborate gravestones. Wealthy families employed renowned sculptors to adorn their sites.
John Jay Smith, the founder, cultivated the site into a landscaped arboretum. He guided the planting of botanical species from around the world. Laurel Hill rapidly became a popular tourist destination. It served the same purpose as a public park, before such a concept even existed.
Expanding Fairmount Park in the 1860s prevented further growth at Laurel Hill. In 1869, John Jay Smith established Laurel Hill West Cemetery. It was located across the Schuylkill River. Both cemeteries are home to generations of Philadelphians. They represent nearly every discipline. Artists, authors, politicians, and more are buried here.
In 1994, Laurel Hill West purchased Bringhurst Funeral Home. In 1997, the present funeral home was erected on the cemetery grounds. In 2022, it rebranded to Laurel Hill Funeral Home.
The Friends of Laurel Hill was founded to support preservation. It is a nonprofit corporation. The Friends have worked to reposition Laurel Hill as a cultural attraction. Laurel Hill’s history has garnered designations. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also a National Historic Landmark.
Opening the Kelly Drive Pedestrian Access improved entry. It welcomes cyclists and walkers. A lighting initiative highlights significant mausoleums. A natural landscape restoration project is in the works. It will improve the environment of the area.
Laurel Hill was the first rural cemetery in Philadelphia. It was the second in the United States. It served as elite Philadelphia’s preferred burial place for over a century. More than a cemetery, Laurel Hill became an outdoor art museum. It became a tourist attraction. It provided a prototype for Fairmount Park.
Before Laurel Hill, Philadelphians were buried in churchyards. These were overcrowded and neglected. John Jay Smith’s inability to locate his daughter’s grave was a major impetus to found Laurel Hill.
Rising 100 feet above the river, Laurel Hill’s soil made it ideal for a cemetery. Burial lots were priced at $50 to $150. This limited interment to the city’s wealthier classes. Laurel Hill’s managers attempted to make the cemetery an American pantheon.
Laurel Hill grew popular as both a burial site and tourist attraction. In 1844, Godey’s Lady’s Book noted that Laurel Hill served as the resting place of our most responsible families. Nearly 30,000 people visited Laurel Hill each year. They sought to escape the city’s heat.
Between 1849 and 1863, Laurel Hill acquired additional land. Laurel Hill’s success sparked a rural cemetery boom. By 1876, there were more than twenty rural cemeteries in the Philadelphia region.
During the Civil War, Laurel Hill became the resting place for military figures. Many oligarchs were laid to rest in imposing mausoleums. These lined “Millionaire’s Row.”
By 1900, the overcrowded cemetery was hemmed in by industry. Many Philadelphians turned to suburban cemeteries. Laurel Hill’s decline accelerated after World War II.
In the 1970s, concerned Philadelphians intervened. The Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery was founded. They raised funds to restore landscaping and monuments. Thousands of visitors attend public programs. They use the cemetery for recreation.
The first burial at Laurel Hill East was that of Mercy Carlisle on October 21, 1836. At Laurel Hill East, there are approximately over 75,000 souls. At Laurel Hill West, there are approximately over 93,000 souls.
You can even visit Adrian’s original prop headstone. It was used in the Rocky Balboa films. Laurel Hill East has been the set for major motion pictures.
Laurel Hill’s story is one of art, history, and peaceful reflection.