The history behind Laurel Hill Cemetery, America's 2nd-oldest burial ground

Friday, November 12, 2021
PHILADELPHIA -- Laurel Hill Cemetery is America's second-oldest rural cemetery.

It was established in 1836 by John Jay Smith when he was unable to find a respectable resting place in the city for his daughter.
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Philadelphia and other cities were running out of space to bury their dead, creating the rural cemetery movement.

Three and a half miles outside the city, the cemetery became a destination hotspot. In a time before parks, it was a place where you could see art and nature in one place.

It's popularity increased when celebrities of the time were being reinterred to Laurel Hill.
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Watch the rise and fall of Laurel Hill Cemetery and how it became a destination once again.

Laurel Hill Cemetery
3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19132