Historic Cemeteries in Concord, MA
Sleepy Hollow. Old Hill Burying Ground. South Burying Ground. Concord’s three burial grounds have a deep historical connection for all of us. They connect to the past while also looking to the future, so it’s no wonder that Concord’s cemeteries are one of the top attractions for visitors. Concord’s literary, social and political history lie within these cemeteries and provide silent commentary to the town’s proud legacy, one that weaves a pattern of local, national, and international appeal. Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is Concord’s most prominent and idyllic with the famous Authors Ridge holding the tombs of Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Daniel Chester French, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau, and others. But the Old Hill Burying Ground and the South Burying Place, two smaller, older and simpler cemeteries in Concord center, testify to Concord’s early years and long history.
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
Sleepy Hollow is a prime example of a 19th century rural New England cemetery and is Concord’s largest – and only active public cemetery. Sleepy Hollow is a popular pilgrimage site for lovers of literature. It is located one block east of Monument Square, on Bedford Street and is walking distance from Concord center. You cannot drive to Author’s Ridge as there is limited parking, and visitors must walk up an incline to the ridge. Among other sites, be sure to also see Melvin Memorial, a monument by renowned sculptor Daniel Chester French, created in honor of three Melvin brothers who died in the Civil War.
Search for Graves at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
Interactive Tour of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery –Sleepy Hollow Map and Graves of Interest
Find out about Friends of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
Old Hill Burying Ground
Concord’s earliest burial site is located on a hillside overlooking the town center, just off Monument Square. The earliest existing stone marks the grave of Joseph Merriam, who died on April 20, 1677.The cemetery has nearly 500 graves, including John Jack, the first formerly enslaved person to purchase land in Concord.
South Burying Ground
South Burying Place – also called Main Street Burying Ground – is Concord’s second-oldest burial site. South Burying Ground harbors the graves of early town residents, including Revolutionary Wars veterans and major figures who shaped Concord’s history. South Burying Ground is in Concord center at Main Street and Keyes Road.
Read about Concord cemeteries in the news.
Explore Cemeteries with the Twilight Walking Tour
Concord’s Twilight walking tour, Monuments, Memories, and Mortality, takes guests on a 90-minute journey exploring the venerable streets and byways of Concord. The tour travels through Old Hill Burying Ground and Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. In this guided walk, you will learn to appreciate the silent stones, memorials, and buildings of the Concord village and explore the 19th-century Garden Cemetery Movement, which focused on romanticizing death, transforming how cemeteries were designed and perceived.
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Bedford Street, Concord, MA, USA
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
South Burying Ground, Main Street, Concord, MA, USA
South Burying Ground
Old Hill Burying Ground, Monument Square, Concord, MA, USA
Old Hill Burying Ground
