Cemeteries

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 Concords early years and long history.

Concords Twilight walking tour,  Monuments, Memories and Mortality, is one of the best ways to explore and learn about the town’s cemeteries. The tour appreciates the silent stones, memorials, and buildings of the village; treks up to the Hill Burying Ground, home of both Puritan and  Revolutionary dead, and then ambles its way through scenic, wooded Sleepy Hollow, a classic example of the Garden Cemetary Movement of the 19th century which romanticized death.

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

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

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 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.

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Bedford Street, Concord, MA, USA

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

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South Burying Ground, Main Street, Concord, MA, USA

South Burying Ground

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Old Hill Burying Ground, Monument Square, Concord, MA, USA

Old Hill Burying Ground

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