Laurel Hill Cemetery

Winter 2012 Events at Laurel Hill

2012-01-12T11:26:00.000-05:00

Breaking the Ice in the Language of the Dead:

January 21 1:00pm

Join Laurel Hill Cemetery for the first program of 2012! Victorian Philadelphians loved visual symbolism, and even their simplest grave markers are likely to be ornamented by ivy (for eternal life), lilies (for resurrection) or hour glasses (for brevity of life). Oftentimes, the symbolism is both lavish and individualized. A civic reformer is memorialized with a bas-relief showing the Schuylkill Canal and the Philadelphia Water Works. A prison reformer is celebrated with a grand model of Moyamensing Prison. A shattered column, a cavalry officer’s sword and a pair of spurs mark the resting place of one of the first soldiers to die at the Battle of Little Big Horn, infamously known as Custer’s Last Stand. A mother who died in childbirth is compellingly depicted clasping her two dead babies. Nineteenth-century Philadelphians understood Laurel Hill not only as a cemetery, but also as a vast sculptural garden and retreat. Accordingly, they came by the thousands to read the symbolic messages that the dead had left for the living. The walking tour will be led by Dr. Michael Brooks, Professor Emeritus of West Chester University. It will conclude with cookies and refreshments.

Til Death Do Us Part: Love Stories of Laurel Hill

February 11 1:00pm

Join us for this tour and reception honoring the “spirit” of Valentines’ Day. Love and Death: The preferred subjects of poets and philosophers across eras and oceans, subjects intertwined in their great mystery, in their power to inspire, to destroy, and to change our worlds forever. Some may contend that death cannot bring an end to true love, while others deem only love itself to be more unforgiving than death. The love stories of Laurel Hill are as varied as the hearts from which they have sprung…Hearts no longer intact, though perhaps still beating…for someone…somewhere. While many of the stories we’ll hear may certainly warm our hearts, the rest of our appendages may be subject to the stone-cold of a cemetery winter; dress appropriately. Red wine, hot chocolate and sultry bites aside a toasty fire will warm your flesh afterwards.

Victorian Celebration of Death

February 18 1:00pm

During the Victorian period, the burial customs and places used by western society changed greatly and for a variety of reasons. Join us for a discussion inside Laurel Hill Cemetery’s historic Gatehouse concerning the rituals surrounding the death of a loved one, including clothing, burial processions, monuments and symbolism. Following the presentation, a tour will highlight monuments and gravestones illustrating the mourning symbolism discussed earlier, and focusing on individuals who lived (and died) in this period, such as famed painter Thomas Sully and publisher of Godey’s Lady’s Book, Louis Antoine Godey. This walking tour will be led by Victorian-era living historians and Friends board members, Ed and Mary Quinn. It will conclude with cookies and refreshments.

2012 4th Friday Tour - Laurel Hill: The Hot Spots and Storied Plots

2012-01-10T16:23:00.002-05:00

Introducing our 4th Friday Drop-In Tour

Laurel Hill: The Hot Spots and Storied Plots

Join us for this informative overview of Laurel Hill's long and colorful history, which will include many of the marble masterpieces, stunning views and legendary stories that afford the cemetery its WOW factor. This is the ultimate tour for first-time visitors to Laurel Hill, and anyone else who likes beautiful art, stimulating history, and just enjoying life...even amongst the dead.

$8.00 General Admission

Only $5.00 for Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery Members!

Buy your tickets online in advance or at the door.

June 2011 at Laurel Hill!

2011-05-24T12:53:00.009-04:00

From Able-Bodied to Disembodied: The Athletes at Rest in Laurel Hill

Saturday, June 4th at 2:00pm

$15.00 REGULAR

Tickets

A Tour and Toast to our Famous Fishtowners

Wednesday, June 8th at 6:00pm

Tickets

Of Planets, Paper & Pendulums: The Life & Times of David Rittenhouse

Saturday, June 11th at 5:00pm

Tickets

Buried in the Land of Strangers: The Confederates of Laurel Hill Cemetery

Sunday, June 12th at 2:00pm

Tickets

Fathers and Sons in Arms: Two Generations of Military Heroes

Saturday, June 18th at 2:00pm

Tickets

May 2011 at Laurel Hill!

2011-04-12T14:29:00.012-04:00

Unearthing Laurel Hill: The Hot Spots and Storied Plots

Sunday, May 1st at 2:00 p.m.

Railroads: The Work of the Age

Wednesday, May 4th at 6:00 p.m.

The Centennial City: From Memorial Hall to Laurel Hill Cemetery

Saturday, May 7th at 12:00 p.m.

The Science of Death: What Lies within the Mutter and beneath Laurel Hill

Thursday, May 12th at 6:00 p.m.

Corpses to the Grave: A History of the Hearse

Saturday, May 21st at 1:00 p.m.

Memorial Day Flag Placement

Sunday, May 22nd at 10:00 a.m.

By Arms and By Courage: The Military Legacy of Laurel Hill

Sunday, May 22nd at 2:00p.m.

Memorial Day Parade, Service, and Reception

Sunday, May 29th at 12:00 p.m.

2011-03-04T18:25:00.011-05:00

Where is Julia? Pretty Places & Victorian Era Superstitions

March 6, 2:00 p.m.

$15.00 general/ $12.00 members/ $10.00 students & seniors

Don't Forget About the Ladies: Finding and Identifying the Women in Your Past
Genealogy Workshop presented by GSP

March 12, 2:00 p.m.

$30.00 general/ $25.00 members

Advanced Registration Required

The Quick and the Dead: Early Transportation to Philadelphia's Final Destination

March 13, 2:00 p.m.

$15.00 general/ $12.00 members/ $10.00 students & seniors

Revisiting Rural Cemeteries: A Symposium of the Library Company of Philadelphia

March 16, 12:30 pm

Free

Advanced Registration Required

In Heaven There Is No Beer...That is Why We Drink it Here: St. Patrick's Day Tour & Toast

March 17, 5:30 p.m.

$25.00 general/ $22.00 members/ $20.00 seniors & students

Advanced Registration Required

Final Curtain Call: The Entertainers of Laurel Hill

March 20th, 2:00 p.m.

$15.00 general/ $12.00 members/ $10.00 students & seniors

The Cure for What Ails You: A History of Medical Men and Women in Philadelphia

March 26, 2:00 p.m.

$15.00 general/ $12.00 members/ $10.00 seniors & students

February 2011 at Laurel Hill

2011-01-19T16:31:00.005-05:00

'Til Death Do Us Part: The Love Stories of Laurel Hill

February 12, 2011

2:00 p.m.

The Victorian Celebration of Death

February 19, 2011
4:00 p.m.

Laurel Hill Cemetery Birthday Celebration: 175 Years and Counting

February 26, 2011

6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

January 2011 at Laurel Hill

2010-12-28T13:02:00.005-05:00

An Old Cemetery in a New Year: An Overview of 175 Years of History

Sunday, January 16th

2:00 p.m.

A Dream within a Dream: Rousing Edgar Allan Poe by the Light of the Full Flower Moon

Saturday, January 22nd

4:00 p.m.

Tangling Amid Tombstones: A Zentagle Art Workshop

Saturday, January 29th

10:00 a.m.

Decemeber 2010 at Laurel Hill

2010-11-30T14:27:00.004-05:00

Unearthing Laurel Hill: A History Written in Stone

December 12th

2:00 p.m.

General Meade Birthday Celebration & New Year's Toast

December 31st
12:00pm

And check out our selection of holiday merchandise for the Cemetery fan in your life!

November 2010 at Laurel Hill

2010-11-04T13:21:00.011-04:00

KIA: Heroes Killed in Action

Commemorating Veterans Day

November 7th, 2:00pm

The Few, The Proud: The Marines of Laurel Hill

Honoring 235 Years of Faithful Service
November 10th, 10:00am

1876 Centennial Exhibition: Program & Exhibit

November 13th, 4:00pm

Philanthropic Philadelphians -In the Spirit of Thanks and Giving
November 20th, 2:00pm

August 2010 at Laurel Hill Cemetery

2010-08-03T14:12:00.006-04:00

Gettysburg & Beyond: Laurel Hill's Ultimate Civil War Tour

Sunday, August 8th

2:00pm

Classy Broads & Daring Dames: Marking the 90th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment

Wednesday, August 18th

6:00pm

TWILIGHT TOUR

Age of Discovery: Explorers, Inventors and Scientists

Sunday August 22nd

2:00pm

July 2010 at Laurel Hill!

2010-06-21T09:17:00.005-04:00

By Arms and Courage: The Military Legacy of Laurel Hill

Sunday, June 11th

2:00pm

The Ghosts Among Our Graves: A Paranormal Investigation of Laurel Hill

Saturday, July 24th

7:00pm

* Advance Registration Required

Famous Fishtowners: A Tour & Toast

Wednesday, July 28th

6:00pm

June 2010 at Laurel Hill Cemetery

2010-05-24T12:00:00.006-04:00

Dig In: A Culinary Tour & Class to Die For

Friday, June 11th 6:00 p.m.

$30.00 per person, advance registration required

The Language of the Dead: Victorian Funerary Symbolism

Sunday, June 27th 2:00 p.m.

$15.00 per person

May 2010 at Laurel Hill Cemetery

2010-04-26T09:41:00.013-04:00

Nature in the Necropolis: Birds & Blooms of Laurel Hill

Saturday, May 1st

10:00 a.m.

Designing for the Dead: Art & Architecture of Laurel Hill

Saturday, May 22nd

2:00 p.m.

Volunteer Flag Placement: Preparing to Honor America's Heroes

Sunday, May 23rd

10:00 a.m.

Unearting Laurel Hill: By the Rise of the Full Flower Moon

Thursday, May 27th

7:00pm

Laurel Hill's Bravest Souls: Memorial Day Parade, Service & Reception

Sunday, May 30th

12:00 p.m.

April 2010 at Laurel Hill Cemetery

2010-03-22T13:40:00.008-04:00

Celebrating Our 175th Anniversary in 2011!

2010-03-01T13:52:00.003-05:00

175 Years of Reflections, Laurel Hill Cemetery, 1836-2011
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

In 2011, Laurel Hill Cemetery will reach a significant milestone in our long and intriguing history: the celebration of our 175^th Anniversary! The Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery are currently in the process of preparing a commemorative booklet to mark this special Anniversary. Tentatively titled 175 Years of Reflections, Laurel Hill Cemetery, 1836-2011, this pocket-sized text will include personal recollections and artistic representations – both historic and contemporary – on or about our famed National Historic Landmark site.

The Friends welcome your submissions to this important project. Reflections can include an original, creative piece of text about the Cemetery, such as a poem, a song, the recounting of a personal experience had while here, or a meditation on what Laurel Hill means to you. Reflections can also include original renderings of the site, ranging from drawings, paintings, sculpture, collage and mixed media. Photographs are also welcome, but because we can include only a limited number of photographic submissions, we encourage alternate forms of visual art where available.

Submission does not guarantee placement. Final selections will be made by a committee of Laurel Hill’s internal peers. The Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery retain the right to edit all final selections to accommodate the dimensions and format of the book, and to best reflect the vision and missions of our organization.

Monetary compensation will not be provided in exchange for submissions. All final selections will be credited only with the name(s) of the contributor(s), the title of the text or artwork if applicable, and the date of copyright. Selected contributors will be invited to attend a special event upon the book’s launch, and will receive one free copy of the publication.

Submissions are limited to two per individual. Each submission must be accompanied by the attached, completed FORM, and can be sent electronically to 175th@thelaurelhillcemetery.org. (Hint: complete the form in Adobe Acrobat by clicking on the typewriter tool in the top left corner of the page.) Submissions can also be sent on CD or DVD, and mailed to Laurel Hill Cemetery, Attn: 175th, 3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19132.

Submissions must be received by no later than Friday, April 30, 2010.

Text should be submitted as amendable Microsoft Office Word documents, or in a compatible format. Scans of original artwork should be submitted as full color, high resolution (300 dpi or more) JPEG, PDF or PSD digital files. The Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery will not be responsible for original artwork. If you are interested in submitting your artwork, but do not have access to a scanner, it may be possible to scan your original piece(s) onsite at the Cemetery office. Please call (215)228-8200 for arrangements.

March 2010 at Laurel Hill

2010-03-01T07:15:00.006-05:00

2010 Tour Guide Training at Laurel Hill Cemetery

2010-02-01T07:54:00.011-05:00

One of Philadelphia's most unique volunteer venues. Unlimited histories & themes to draw upon in a beautiful and evocative setting. Dinner conversation for years to come...

It's once again time for tour guide training at Laurel Hill Cemetery! If you've been looking for a meaningful way to get involved with the cemetery, volunteering your time and passion as a tour guide is one of the best ways to do so. Discover how you can become a part of the dedicated tour guide base at Laurel Hill Cemetery. It's simple: join current cemetery guides for an informative workshop, luncheon, and general tour of Laurel Hill this March 6th from 9 AM - 3 PM.

Advance registration is required (limited capacity). All current and prospective guides must register by February 26th. To make your reservation, call 215.228.8200 or email info@thelaurelhillcemetery.org.

Please note that as of 2/22/10, registration for the training is full. You can still contact us to join our mailing list for another training later this year. Thank you!

February 2010 at Laurel Hill Cemetery

2010-01-28T13:14:00.006-05:00

2010 New Year's Sale

2010-01-07T09:15:00.005-05:00

Don't miss our New Year's Sale! Visit our online Cemetery Store or our on-site Cemetery Gift Shop to take 25% off select Laurel Hill merchandise. If making your purchase online, simply insert the coupon code 1836LHC2010 when viewing your cart prior to checkout. Offer valid now through January 31st, 2010 or while supplies last.

You can also renew or purchase membership online. New benefits apply to those who renew or purchase membership in 2010. When you join the Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery or purchase Laurel Hill merchandise, you are directly supporting our preservation and interpretation efforts for our National Historic Landmark.

Happy New Year to you!

January 2010 at Laurel Hill Cemetery

2009-12-14T12:58:00.007-05:00

Unique 2009 Holiday Gifts

2009-12-03T13:12:00.004-05:00

December 2009 Tours & Events

2009-11-30T10:17:00.008-05:00

The 2009 Cheer Zone at Laurel Hill Cemetery

2009-11-05T10:49:00.004-05:00

For more information, please visit our website.

November 2009 Tours

2009-10-27T09:12:00.011-04:00

The Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery Present

HEROES KILLED IN ACTION:
OBSERVING VETERANS DAY

This tour will visit the final resting places of the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Learn about the people who died in battle in the Revolutionary War, the Indian Wars, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War, the Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, in Korea, and in Vietnam. Their heroic exploits will be relived, explored and honored.

Heroes Killed in Action, a walking tour of Laurel Hill Cemetery commemorating Veterans Day, will take place on Sunday, November 8th at 2 PM. The tour will be guided by Dr. Anthony Waskie, a military historian and author, Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery board member, President of the General Meade Society of Philadelphia, and Professor at Temple University. The cost is $15/person, with discounts for students and members. Children are free.

The Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery Present

PHILANTHROPIC PHILADELPHIANS:
IN THE SPIRIT OF THANKS AND GIVING

Those familiar with the Philadelphia region are likely to recognize the names of Rittenhouse, Clothier, Gratz and Elkins, among many others. What few realize, however, is that each of these places and institutions can be traced to the legacies of real people: individuals and families who made their fortunes in developing and industrializing the city of Philadelphia. Greatness can be - and indeed should be - measured in more ways than one. While these early Philadelphians may most often be remembered for their keen business sense, unrivaled success and accumulated wealth, it is ultimately how they chose to utilize their influence and share their fortunes that measure their true greatness. They have surely earned their peaceful rest at Laurel Hill.

Learn about the philanthropic deeds of these do-gooders with big wallets and bigger hearts in Philanthropic Philadelphians, a walking tour of Laurel Hill Cemetery to take place on Saturday, November 21st at 2 PM. The tour will be guided by Dr. David Horwitz, historian, professor, and Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery board member. The cost of the tour is $15/person with discounts for students and members. Children are free.

New Seasonal Merchandise

2009-10-05T08:19:00.007-04:00

Tombstone Cookie Cutters

Italian Steel Leaves

Limited Edition LHC Glass Ornaments
Philadelphia author Joanne Dahme's third work of young adult fiction features LHC!

October 2009 at Laurel Hill Cemetery

2009-09-22T10:04:00.015-04:00

Don't miss the Fifth Annual Gravediggers' Ball!
Friday, October 2nd at 7PM

*Deadline for ticket purchases is Friday, September 25th

South Jersey Ghost Research and Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery Present
Dialogue of the Dead: A Paranormal Exploration of
Laurel Hill Cemetery
Saturday, October 3rd at 6 PM

Sinners, Scandals and Suicides
Sunday, October 11th at 2PM

Dining Amongst the Dead: BYOB Dinner & Tour
Saturday, October 17th
* At the time of this posting, the 8 PM seating is sold out.

1st Annual Rest in Peace 5k Run

Sunday, October 18th at 9 AM

Halloween Flashlight Tours
Friday, October 23rd and Saturday, October 24th
Tours depart from 7 PM to 9:30 PM

Fall Family Day
Sunday, October 25th at 1 PM

HK Memorial Patches Now Available

2009-09-16T09:12:00.006-04:00

It's not too late to buy tickets to this year's Gravediggers' Ball, which will be held in honor of beloved long-time Philadelphia Phillies sportscaster, Harry Kalas. Can't make it to the Ball? The HK Memorial Patches are now available through Laurel Hill Cemetery's store.

In 2009, the Philadelphia Phillies players wore uniform patches in honor of Harry Kalas for the remainder of the season following his death. The black circular HK patches were located on the front of the jersey in the area of the heart. These embroidered patches measure 2" in diameter.

Civic Leader's "New Home": Old Cemetery

2009-09-01T11:23:00.004-04:00

This month, Alexander "Pete" Hoskins assumes leadership of West Laurel Hill/Laurel Hill Cemeteries and Bringhurst/Turner Funeral Homes as president and chief executive officer of these entities. Gwen Kaminski (Director of Development & Programs) and Bill Doran (Superintendent) accompanied Mr. Hoskins on his first explorations of historic Laurel Hill Cemetery. Today, the ensuing story appeared on the front page of The Philadelphia Inquirer, and you can find it here.

Other Coverage from August:

The After Party: Laurel Hill Cemetery's Got Big Plans for the Dearly Departed (City Paper, 18 August)

Former Head of the Zoo Will Oversee Historic Cemeteries (Philadelphia Business Journal, 28 August)

September 2009 Tours

2009-08-24T07:59:00.014-04:00

THE FRIENDS OF LAUREL HILL CEMETERY PRESENT

THE CEMETERY AND THE RIVER:
A TOUR AND BYOF PICNIC OVERLOOKING THE SCHUYLKILL

Since the cemetery’s founding in 1836, views of the Schuylkill River have remained a central component of our visual character, and a memorable part of the Laurel Hill experience for visitors of past and present. The site’s proximity to the river was perhaps the most important selling point for the cemetery’s founders. Landscape architect John Notman laid out the grounds so that visitors could enjoy scenic views upstream and downstream. The Lewis monument at Laurel Hill features a bas-relief carving of the river, its canal, and the Fairmount Waterworks. Before the construction of East River Drive, the cemetery’s property line extended right down to the water. Many early funeral-goers traveled to Laurel Hill via steamboat, once the vehicles started plying the river on a regular basis in the 1840s, embarking hourly on a circuit between Fairmount and the Falls of Schuylkill to empty a stream of lot-holders and sightseers at the cemetery. Our tour will explore these and many other connections between Laurel Hill and the River.

The Cemetery and The River, a walking tour of Laurel Hill Cemetery, will take place on Saturday, September 12th at 12:00pm. The tour will be guided by Dr. Michael Brooks, West Chester University professor, Laurel Hill Cemetery historian, and retired board member of the Friends. The program will be followed by a BYOF (Bring Your Own Food) picnic overlooking the river. Blankets, Beverages and Cold Storage for lunches will be provided. The cost of the program is $15 per person; $12 for members; $8 for students; and children are free.

THE FRIENDS OF LAUREL HILL CEMETERY PRESENT

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:
LAUREL HILL IN LETTERS AND DIARIES

As all students of history have experienced, the facts and events of the past can be very elusive. Even more mysterious, however, are the inner thoughts and experiences of the people who have passed before us. As you walk the grounds of Laurel Hill Cemetery, it is inevitable that questions arise regarding the private lives of the individuals resting within the family plots and beneath the tombstones and grave markers. What was it like to face your brother in battle during the Civil War, and defeat him? How did it feel to visit the grave of your newly departed husband for the first time? What led one of Philadelphia's most unusual philanthropists to devote his life and money to serving the underprivileged? Answers to these questions, and more, can often be found in personal letters, diaries and reminiscences. Original manuscripts found within Philadelphia's most notable libraries and archives will serve as the tantalizing point of entry into this walking tour of the lives of famous and not-so-famous Philadelphians resting in Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Join us on Sunday, September 13th at 2 pm. The tour will be guided by Dr. Michael Brooks, West Chester University professor, Laurel Hill Cemetery historian, and retired board member of the Friends. The cost of the program is $15 per person; $12 for members; $8 for students; and children are free.

THE FRIENDS OF LAUREL HILL CEMETERY PRESENT

AN ARBORIST’S ANGLE:
THE SPECIMEN TREES OF LAUREL HILL CEMETERY

The location of Laurel Hill Cemetery is historically significant. As a child, John Jay Smith, Laurel Hill’s primary founder, had frequented the Schuylkill River estates of Philadelphia’s wealthy. It was in these settings, he later recalled, that he had “imbibed the love of trees and flowers” which had afforded him so much pleasure. Smith’s childhood stomping grounds would be the future site of Laurel Hill. His founding vision was realized in a cemetery that would not only serve as a place of rest and retreat, but also as a first-class Arboretum, whereat “one specimen…of every valuable tree and shrub which will bear the climate” could be found. Today, nestled within the bustling urban neighborhoods of Philadelphia, Laurel Hill continues to be a horticultural gem, a green refuge for birds and the various types of wildlife that make their home here.

An Arborist’s Angle, a walking tour through Laurel Hill Cemetery, will specifically examine the site’s specimen trees. The program will take place on Sunday, September 20th at 2:00pm. The program cost is $15 per person; $12 for members; $8 for students; and children are free.

2009 Student Photography Contest at LHC

2009-08-07T08:12:00.014-04:00

Kelly Arnold, 1st Place - While this figure has been photographed many times at Laurel Hill, we hadn't seen this perspective before, which captures a portrait through the crown the angel bears. This student took more than one shot at a unique angle.

Led by instructor Penny Gardner, several students from Marple Newtown High School recently explored the grounds through the medium of their choice (and an ever-popular activity at Laurel Hill): photography. The following students participated in a contest of their Laurel Hill imagery: Kelly Arnold, Louis Aurig, Amanda Brandt, Chad Edmonds, Sarah Hoecke, Sarah Hoffman, Rachel Hughes, Nicolette Killen, Angie Lanza, Robyn Markle, Anna Matlack, Alex Morrison, and Casey O'Donnell. Laurel Hill Cemetery staff enjoyed the efforts of each of these students. Look for future endeavors by Marple Newtown High School, including a focus on digital manipulation.

Alex Morrison, 2nd Place - Laurel Hill was founded as - and remains - a retreat for the living. We therefore enjoyed the many images of students interacting with the grounds and monuments. Here, the photographer sets a mood and creates the potential for a narrative in this black and white image at K-Point, an area overlooking the Schuylkill River.

Rachel Hughes, 3rd Place - A beautiful atmosphere is achieved in this image of the Umberger monument; the off-focus, sparse trees and monuments provide an expressive backdrop to the grieving figure.
Chad Edmonds, Honorable Mention - The grid and gradation work well together to present this student's study of crosses, a familiar motif at Laurel Hill. The focused exploration and effort by this student set his work apart.

New LHC Cards & Postcards

2009-08-04T14:34:00.005-04:00

Laurel Hill, a coloured engraving by William Croome

Visit our online store to view new postcard designs as well as blank note cards featuring work by illustrator Al Lorenz! Both are available in singles or in collections.

Cell Phone Tour Launch a Success

2009-08-01T10:05:00.005-04:00

The public Cell Phone Tour Launch Party held on the evening of the 31st was a great success. After daunting forecasts and torrential downpour, the weather cleared beautifully for the event, enabling dozens of guests to experience the grounds and history of Laurel Hill at dusk with their cell phones in hand. Photographer Jennifer Creary captured the spectacular sunset that evening (above).

Visitors to Laurel Hill can now bring their cell phones and tune into the audio tour that highlights the oldest section of the Cemetery. The only cost associated with this tour is the minutes for your specific cell phone plan. An introductory exhibit, kiosk with maps, directions for dialing in, and the first stop are all located at the main entrance. We invite you to visit as many stops in whatever order you please to hear some of the stories of those now resting peacefully at the Cemetery.

2009-07-30T12:18:00.004-04:00

1st Annual
REST IN PEACE 5K RUN
Sunday, October 18th

8 AM Check-In
9 AM Run Begins

Trick or treat...move your feet! Hosted by East Falls Fitness, the first annual Rest In Peace 5k Run will benefit nonprofits Back On My Feet and the Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery. With over 78 acres of grand architecture, stunning statuary, rolling landscapes, and majestic views of the Schuylkill River, Laurel Hill provides an appropriately cool albeit creepy course for runners – or walkers – of all ages and fitness levels. Runners and spectators alike are encouraged to attend in Halloween attire, and prizes will be given for the best costumes.

To register, donate, or become a sponsor of this year's run, please visit www.rip5k.org. Alternatively, download our fundraising packet here. Further inquiries can be made at info@rip5k.org.

Hill Resident Manages City's Most Historic Cemetery

2009-07-30T08:33:00.002-04:00

Laurel Hill's Superintendent, Bill Doran, discusses his many years of service in this article by The Chestnut Hill Local.

Philadelphia Zoo and Laurel Hill Get Tech Exhibits

2009-07-28T13:37:00.004-04:00

Laurel Hill's Development & Programs Coordinator, Amanda J. Sisk, took a moment to speak with Technically Philly's Co-founder, Brian James Kirk, about the Cemetery's embrace of cell phone technology. You can find the story here.

In the Startled Ear of Night - 2009

2009-07-27T11:43:00.006-04:00

In the Startled Ear of Night

Thursday, August 20th at 8 p.m.
Rain Date: August 27th

Brat Productions is presenting several pre-performance events for their play, Haunted Poe. One of these will be a special BYOFL (Bring Your Own Flashlight) tour of Laurel Hill's grounds with stops made at gravesites relevant to Edgar Allen Poe's life. A Poe historian will share anecdotes on the author's time in Philadelphia, and writers and poets will read original works inspired by Poe.

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC - SPACE IS LIMITED
FOR RESERVATIONS: rsvp@bratproductions.org

August 2009 Tours

2009-07-27T11:25:00.007-04:00

2009 Gravediggers' Ball

2009-07-21T09:04:00.004-04:00

Believe it or not, the Gravediggers' Ball is now just 10 weeks away! Our 5th annual fundraiser will pay tribute to the remarkable life and career of late Philadelphia sportscaster, Harry Kalas, who now rests at Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Invitations will be going out in early August. If you're not already on our mailing list and would like to receive one, send us an email with your address. Or, purchase your tickets online today!

The Friends of Laurel Hill continue to seek Sponsors, Advertisers and Contributors. All proceeds raised from our 5th annual fundraiser will directly support our principle missions of preservation and interpretation, maintaining Laurel Hill Cemetery as a sacred place of solace, learning and wonder for generations to come. We need your help! No amount is too small! Download our Support Packet, and help spread the word!

The Friends salute our 2009 Sponsors:
The Bulletin
Philly.com
Delaware River Port Authority
Executive Sounding Board Associates, Inc.
Howe, Keller & Hunter, P.C.
Kaplin Stewart
Merendino Cemetery Care
Peachy Kleen Janitorial, Inc.

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen

2009-07-21T08:59:00.001-04:00

Did you know?

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen is the biggest blockbuster of Summer 2009. If you're among the many millions that have or will see it, then you might recognize some familiar backdrops...those cemetery scenes were shot nowhere other than Laurel Hill!

Check out the movie trailer.

2009 East Coast Paranormal Investigators Conference

2009-07-21T07:26:00.002-04:00

Laurel Hill Cemetery will be participating in the East Coast Paranormal Investigators Conference at Fort Mifflin. Laurel Hill Cemetery speakers of note will include J. Joseph Edgette, Ph.D. (FLHC board member) and author Tom Keels.

All proceeds of this weekend event (October 10th and 11th) will benefit the preservation, restoration, interpretation and education programs at Fort Mifflin, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Visit the ECPIC website to learn more about the event or to reserve a spot.

NBC10 - "Voices" From the Grave on Your Cell

2009-07-14T07:46:00.010-04:00

Director of Development & Programs, Gwen Kaminski, and FLHC Board President, Carol Yaster, met with NBC10 on Monday. You can watch their coverage of the cell phone tour here:

"Voices" From the Grave on Your Cell (Video)

"Voices" From the Grave on Your Cell (Article)

North Cell Phone Tour Public Launch Party

2009-07-06T09:10:00.006-04:00

Laurel Hill Cemetery
North Cell Phone Tour

SAVE THE DATE!!!
JULY 31, 2009, 7:00PM
FREE PUBLIC LAUNCH PARTY AND RECEPTION

Laurel Hill Cemetery bears the title of National Historic Landmark for a lot of reasons. The remarkable people resting here is one of them. Their diverse “voices,” interpreted by talented local actors, will be interwoven throughout the tour - “heard,” in a sense, from beyond the grave. The site’s best-known resident (General Meade of Gettysburg acclaim), as well as its most recent (Harry Kalas of Phillies fame), are just a couple of the stories awaiting eager ears. Callers will also learn about the only person in Laurel Hill’s long history to die upon his own grave, and one of the city’s most infamous rich guy/poor girl romances.

Laurel Hill Cemetery is 78 acres of history galore. This Cell Phone Tour covers just a portion of the site, clustered in its North – or oldest – section. Development of tours for Central and South Laurel Hill will eventually follow. In addition to this new programming, an introductory exhibit was just installed to greet tour-takers. This one-of-a-kind experience will be further aided by a specially designed map and directional signage.

Through this current and versatile technology, the Friends of Laurel Hill will expand the site’s unique public programming, while providing visitors an experience that is educational, entertaining and, perhaps most importantly, FREE. Tour-takers will incur no costs except the use of their minutes.

This project of the Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery was made possible via generous grants from the Schuylkill River Heritage Area through the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission; the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development; and the Samuel S. Fels Fund.

July 2009 Tours

2009-06-17T08:16:00.008-04:00

THE FRIENDS OF LAUREL HILL CEMETERY PRESENT
GETTYSBURG AND BEYOND:
LAUREL HILL’S ULTIMATE CIVIL WAR TOUR

Join us in a journey through time to the Civil War battle that changed American history!

The most bloody and pivotal moment in the history of the American Civil War was the decisive Battle of Gettysburg, fought from July 1st through the 3rd of 1863, only 120 miles away from the home front of Philadelphia. Many prominent Philadelphians were engaged at Gettysburg, some losing their lives for the nation. The Union commander at the battle, General Meade, Division Commander General Crawford, Confederates, and many other officers and enlisted men who participated now rest at Laurel Hill. The tour will also highlight the important roles played by volunteer nurses, surgeons, civilians and supporters of the war effort, whom likewise lie under Laurel Hill’s perpetual care.

Gettysburg and Beyond, a walking tour of the famed necropolis, will take place on Saturday, July 11th at 2:00pm. The program will be guided by Dr. Andy Waskie, a military historian and author, Friends of Laurel Hill board member, President of the General Meade Society of Philadelphia and Professor at Temple University. The cost is $15 per person, $12 for members, $8 for students, and children are free.

THE FRIENDS OF LAUREL HILL CEMETERY PRESENT
THE LADIES OF LAUREL HILL

General George Gordon Meade, David Rittenhouse, Henry Deringer, Peter Widener—the list of Laurel Hill Cemetery’s renowned and remembered men goes on and on…

But what about the ladies of Laurel Hill? What about the women buried here?

This program is all about them—from the more familiar, such as Sarah Josepha Hale, Godey’s Lady’s Book editor, and Elizabeth Hutter, Civil War nurse—to the less well-known, but equally important, like the writer, Lucy Hamilton Hooper, the archeologist, Sarah Yorke Stevenson, and Mary Engle Pennington, whose work made it possible to transport fresh milk—and later, beer—nationwide.

Join us as we remember and celebrate the achievements of these remarkable women, among so many others. The Ladies of the Hill, a walking tour of Laurel Hill Cemetery, will take place on Sunday, July 26th at 2:00pm. The tour will be guided by Carol Yaster, independent researcher, archivist and President of the Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery. The cost is $15 per person, $12 for members, $8 for students, and children are free.

Unusual Twist in Civil War Commemoration

2009-05-27T11:23:00.007-04:00

Laurel Hill Cemetery featured in the local news section of The Philadelphia Inquirer this past Monday. Anthony Waskie (board member and Temple professor) contributed to the article about this year's Memorial Day Commemoration at Laurel Hill Cemetery, which typically focuses on General George G. Meade but also highlighted Ashmead, a Confederate.

You can read more here. The article also appeared in The Washington Times.

Protest Budget Cuts to PA Museums!

2009-05-27T11:07:00.004-04:00

The current state budget proposal calls for severe cuts to the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, and the elimination of the museum assistance grants upon which the Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery and other historic sites have depended each and every year. If you haven’t done so already, please sign the petition calling for the retention of funding for Philadelphia’s historical and cultural institutions. And, please take the time to pass this along to friends and colleagues who are similarly invested in preserving Laurel Hill and places like us. The louder the cry, the better chance we have of being heard!

June 2009 Tours & Events

2009-05-19T09:19:00.003-04:00

THE FRIENDS OF LAUREL HILL CEMETERY PRESENT
JUNETEENTH and the CIVIL WAR
Celebrating African American Emancipation

General Thomas Kane served as an agent on the Underground Railroad. General AlexanderCummings, founder of the Evening Bulletin, and an early supporter of abolition was Superintendent of Troops of African Descent in Arkansas, organizing five regiments of Black infantry. General Edgar Gregory assisted runaway slaves in escaping to Canada, and served as the first Assistant Commissioner of the Texas Freedman’s Bureau after the war. General Meade, Victor of Gettysburg commanded Black troops in the siege of Petersburg. After the Civil War, units composed of Black soldiers fought bravely on the frontier as Buffalo Soldiers; their comrades are also buried here. These are just a few of the stories you will learn about in historic Laurel Hill Cemetery’s tour commemorating ‘Juneteenth,’ the Jubilee of Emancipation and end of the Civil War celebrated by African Americans.

Why are there no Black Civil War troops buried at Laurel Hill? Long after the first celebration of ‘Juneteenth’ in 1865, segregation still persisted—even in death. However, it was ultimately the collaboration of White and Black troops in the Civil War effort that ensured the Union’s victory. Many of the famous generals, commanders and decorated heroes buried here achieved their success with the assistance of former slaves and freedmen who fought and died for their own freedom. Learn about the history of the Civil War that has often been overlooked and forgotten. Hear the stories of men—both Black and White—whose shared commitment to the struggle against oppression and racial inequality revealed their true heroism and courage.

Juneteenth and the Civil War, a walking tour of Laurel Hill Cemetery, will take place on Sunday, June 14th at 2:00pm. The tour will be guided by Joe Becton, a teacher, author, historian and cofounder of the 3rd Regiment United States Colored Troops Civil War re-enactors; and Dr. Andy Waskie of Temple University's Civil War & Emancipation Studies (CWEST), and board member of the Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery. The cost of the tour is $15 per person; $12 for members; $8 for students; children are free.

THE FRIENDS OF LAUREL HILL CEMETERY PRESENT
GIVING UP THE SECRETS OF THE GRAVE:
A GENEALOGIST’S WORKSHOP

Giving Up the Secrets of the Grave, an introductory workshop geared towards novice to intermediate genealogists and researchers, will shed light upon the unique information that can be gleaned from burial records. The program will also discuss how to obtain vital records from the Commonwealth and religious institutions; the subject of why and when to exchange money for records; and the various online research resources that are available today. Finally, the workshop will demonstrate how the information and symbolism found on cemetery grave markers can often serve as vital clues in the quest to uncover our past.

Giving up the Secrets of the Grave: A Genealogist’s Workshop will take place on Saturday, June 27th at 11:00am. It will conclude with lunch, refreshments and socializing in Laurel Hill's historic Gatehouse. The cost is $25 per person; or $20 for members and students. Reservations are requested. The program will be led by Carol Yaster, Board President of the Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery; and Daniel Dailey, Board Member of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, and Program Associate for Laurel Hill Cemetery. Both are seasoned genealogists and cemetery enthusiasts who bring firsthand experience and advice to bear on the subject.

New Exhibit at Laurel Hill -2009

2009-04-27T12:34:00.007-04:00

Friends Select Middle School & the Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery Present:

GRAVE TALES: Reading Laurel Hill’s Funerary Symbols

A great number of symbols appear on the headstones and monuments at Laurel HillCemetery, many of which date from the Cemetery’s founding in the early 19th century. The use of these symbols was very popular with the Victorian people, a factmade apparent by the sheer diversity of funerary symbols dating from this period. Some are easily deciphered, such as a simple cross or a military shield, while others are not always clear at first. Most grave markings display words – names, dates, and possibly a short phrase or quote – but symbols can quickly and easily reflect a person’s life in ways that mere words cannot. Images have the ability to capture a person’s essence and condense it into a small, yet clear space. From professions and life achievements to details about death and personal beliefs, a great deal of information can be summed up with symbols.

In 2008-9, seven students from the Friends Select Middle School volunteered their time at Laurel Hill, gathering visual examples and information about these symbols from the grounds and literally “reading” the tales of the past at the Cemetery. Their exhibit introduces us to the meanings behind a variety of military, plant/animal, and religious symbols. The graves have many tales to tell, and with a clear understanding of funerary symbols, the stories of the past can become more legible. These symbols can be contemporary or as old as the Cemetery itself . . . either way, many of them prove that sometimes, a picture truly is worth a thousand words.

CREDITS: Sydney St. Clare, Asha Davis, Spencer Yaffe, Hye Jun Youn, Hunter P. Glickstein, Cora Anne Hacker, Katharine Bell, and John Colgan-Davis

2009-04-23T13:12:00.004-04:00

ANOTHER LEGEND LAID TO REST AT HISTORIC LAUREL HILL

The hallowed burial site of war generals, politicians, authors, architects, industrialists and notable visionaries of past and recent history, Laurel Hill Cemetery now stands as the final resting place of Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and beloved regional sportscaster, Harry Kalas.

Kalas was laid to rest at Laurel Hill in a private memorial service following the tribute at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday, April 18, 2009.

Laurel Hill has been the sacred site of sepulcher of Philadelphia’s famous since its founding in 1836. One of the few cemeteries in the United States to receive distinction as a National Historic Landmark, there is no more appropriate place to honor this Legend, nor to celebrate his Life well lived. Kalas’ gravesite is situated on a scenic bluff high above Kelly Drive, overlooking the Schuylkill River and the City that he so loved.

May 2009 Tours & Events

2009-04-23T10:11:00.015-04:00

THE FRIENDS OF LAUREL HILL CEMETERY PRESENT
SEPULCHRE SCULPTURE: LAUREL HILL’S OUTDOOR GALLERY

Laurel Hill’s unique establishment as an outdoor sculpture gallery remains highlighted by the view that still greets visitors today, the sandstone sculptural group Old Mortality and His Pony. This work and other monuments were actually exhibited as artworks prior to their placement in the Cemetery. Who were the sculptors – some of whom lived, worked, and died in Philadelphia - who shaped our final view of those now resting peacefully beneath richly carved or poured materials?

Join us to unveil the intertwining stories of the deceased, their monuments, and some of their creators, such as rebellious French sculptor, Joseph A. Bailly, who fired upon his own captain in the French Revolution and escaped to Philadelphia; Henry D. Saunders, who buried and then immortalized his lost wife and two children in marble on the grounds; and Harriet Frishmuth, student of Rodin and assistant to Karl Bitter, who scorned modern art, the term “sculptress,” and convention - and whose body of work and body have shaped the landscape of Laurel Hill.

This walking tour will take place on Saturday, May 2nd at 2:00pm. The tour will be guided by Amanda J. Sisk, figurative sculptor, teacher, and Development & Programs Coordinator at Laurel Hill Cemetery.

LAUREL HILL CEMETERY & THE FRIENDS OF LAUREL HILL PRESENT
BIRDING AMONGST THE BURIED
Laurel Hill is our nation's first garden cemetery, and who could be more welcome visitors to a garden than birds? We will walk through this beautiful park-like landscape overlooking the Schuylkill River, while we learn about its history, and try to identify as many birds as possible of those that we see or hear. Near the end of migration season, we may still find some temporary visitors, as well as permanent residents and those who reside here for the whole summer. The first birding program to be held at the site, we will pool our knowledge and findings to begin a list of the Birds of Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Share your knowledge or just enjoy nature all around you in the midst of the city. Bring binoculars. Bird book, notepad and pen are optional. Torrential rain cancels the program; drizzle does not.

THE FRIENDS OF LAUREL HILL CEMETERY PRESENT
A MOTHER’S WORK FINALLY DONE: A PEACEFUL REST NOW WELL WON

Oh wondrous power! How little understood,
Entrusted to the mother’s mind alone,
To fashion genius, form the soul for good,
Inspire a West, train a Washington!

So penned Sarah Josepha Hale, one of the many hard-working, inspirational women buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery. An active champion of women’s rights (but NOT the right to vote!), Hale was also of the opinion that “no influence is so powerful as that of the mother.” Join us in celebration of Mother’s Day, as we remember the achievements of Hale and the many other remarkable mothers now resting peacefully at Laurel Hill. Bring your parent or treat your own maternal self to a tour, followed by an informal tea in the Cemetery’s historic Gatehouse.

A Mother’s Work Finally Done: A Peaceful Rest Now Well Won, a walking tour of Laurel Hill Cemetery followed by tea, will take place on Sunday, May 10th at 11:00am. The tour will be guided by Carol Yaster, independent researcher, archivist, certified authority on Laurel Hill Cemetery — and herself a mother of two. The program cost is $25 per person. As space is limited, advance reservations are requested.

THE GENERAL MEADE SOCIETY & FRIENDS OF LAUREL HILL PRESENT
Preparing to Honor America's Heroes: Volunteer Flag Placement and Lunch

The General Meade Society of Philadelphia, in conjunction with the Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery, calls all VOLUNTEERS to assist in preparing for the nation’s Memorial Day commemoration. The group will convene at Laurel Hill Cemetery on Sunday, May 17th at 10:00am. Those assembled will be assigned to place American flags on the gravesites of Veterans that served in all of our nation’s Wars. As time and manpower permit, and in addition to Laurel Hill, cemeteries covered may include Mount Moriah, Mount Peace and St. James the Less. Free refreshments and lunch will be provided.

THE GENERAL MEADE SOCIETY & FRIENDS OF LAUREL HILL PRESENT
Laurel Hill's Bravest Souls: Memorial Day Parade, Service & Reception

Every year, the traditional Decoration Day service of the Grand Army Meade Post #1 is recreated at historic Laurel Hill Cemetery, the site of the first Memorial Day Observance in Philadelphia in 1868. Special bronze markers are dedicated at the graves of veterans. Afterwards, the entourage gathers at the resting place of General Meade, hero of the Battle of Gettysburg, to perform the traditional service honoring all veterans who fell defending the nation. A wreath-laying, speeches and honor guards always enhance the ceremony, and a reception in the gatehouse follows.

Laurel Hill Cemetery's Memorial Day Observance will take place on Sunday, May 24th, beginning at 12:00pm. The General Meade Society of Philadelphia sponsors this annual event.

Spring 2009 at Laurel Hill

2009-04-10T07:36:00.006-04:00

Spring has arrived at Laurel Hill Cemetery! Come enjoy the recently cleared views of the Schuylkill River, many different trees in bloom, patches of violets surrounding the monuments, and even butterflies and bees...

Historic Resting Place Reclaimed

2009-04-06T10:36:00.006-04:00

Laurel Hill Cemetery featured in the business section of The Philadelphia Inquirer this past Saturday. Bill Doran (Superintendent), Gwendolyn Kaminski (Director of Development & Programming), Carol Yaster (President of the Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery), and Anthony Waskie (board member and Temple professor) all contributed to the article about the recent transformations at Laurel Hill Cemetery. You can view the article and photos here:

Laurel Hill's departed get their view back

New LHC Merchandise

2009-03-30T11:17:00.013-04:00

New merchandise continues to arrive at the Cemetery store this spring. For those of you who were awaiting larger sizes in Laurel Hill apparel, our black T-shirts are available in S, M, L, XL, and 2XL this April.

Check out our new glass ornaments, all of which are handcrafted in Poland. Available in four designs: casket, hearse, and male or female gravediggers. These are unique gift items for any day of the year.

Laurel Hill is offering two genealogy programs in 2009. Whether or not you can make it to those events (one is geared towards children), Your Guide to Cemetery Research is an excellent tool for genealogists and graveyard lovers alike...and copies are becoming more difficult to secure! Watch out for our special promotional pricing.

Did you know that Laurel Hill is the resting place of one of America's greatest explorers, Elisha Kent Kane? Ken McGoogan's Race to the Polar Sea covers Kane's feats in the Arctic, his doomed love affair, and his early death. Available through Laurel Hill this April!

Finally, this wonderful new book is the only written history of Philadelphia's Kensington Soup Society, thirteen founding members of which are buried here. Only at Laurel Hill can you purchase your autographed copy with its 47 page supplement - get yours now!

April 2009 Events & Tours

2009-03-24T13:10:00.009-04:00

LAUREL HILL CEMETERY & THE FRIENDS OF LAUREL HILL
Present
R.M.S. TITANIC: 97 YEARS LATER
A TOUR, LECTURE AND DINNER

This unique experience will mark the 97th anniversary of the sinking of the “Ship of Dreams” and will consist of four distinct parts: The first will provide a walking tour of Philadelphia’s historic Laurel Hill Cemetery, where we will visit the burial sites and hear the stories of six Titanic passengers. Everyone will then meet up at West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd for a glimpse into the lives and deaths of the passengers interred there. Following the tours, guests will convene for a slide-supported presentation highlighting the many connections between the Titanic and Philadelphia. After the program, participants will feast on a delicious dinner replicating the one served aboard the Titanic on that final, fateful night. The dinner will be held inside the Conservatory on the grounds of West Laurel Hill. Each guest will be given a souvenir booklet and parchment replica of the stock certificate issued by the White Star Line.

Our guide will be J. Joseph Edgette, Ph.D., a Professor Emeritus of Education and Resident Folklorist at Widener University. Dr. Edgette specializes in the history of the Titanic and the lives of its passengers.

R.M.S. Titanic: 97 Years Later will take place on Saturday, April 4, 2009 at 3:00pm. The cost for the tours only is $25.00 per person. The cost for the entire program, including tours, lecture and dinner, is $75.00 per person. Reservations are required. Space is limited, so register early! (Please note that participants will be responsible for their own transport from Laurel Hill to West Laurel Hill Cemetery.*)

THE FRIENDS OF LAUREL HILL CEMETERY PRESENT
PLANTING THE FAMILY SEED: A JUNIOR GENEALOGIST’S WORKSHOP
Join us for this unique day of learning and discovery that aims to help children understand, appreciate and enjoy their family history. This workshop will focus on how to conduct genealogical research, where to start, and the distinct resources that cemeteries can provide in one’s quest to uncover his or her past. While all ages are welcome, the program is geared towards children seven and older.

Planting the Family Seed: A Junior Genealogist’s Workshop will take place on Saturday, April 18th beginning at 11:00am. It will be led by Daniel and Donnamarie Dailey, genealogists and parents who have worked to instill a love of history and appreciation of ancestry in their own children. The program will run approximately two hours, and will be followed by refreshments in Laurel Hill’s historic Gatehouse. The cost for adults is $15; children are free. As space is limited, advance reservations are requested.

THE FRIENDS OF LAUREL HILL CEMETERY PRESENT
UNEARTHING LAUREL HILL: A HISTORY WRITTEN IN STONE

An informative overview of Laurel Hill's long and colorful history, this tour will include all of the highlights, hot spots and notable stories that afford the cemetery its WOW factor. This is the ultimate tour for first-time visitors to Laurel Hill, and anyone else who likes beautiful art, stimulating history, and just enjoying life...even amongst the dead.

Unearthing Laurel Hill, a walking tour of the famed necropolis, will take place on Sunday, April 26th at 2:00pm. The tour will be guided by Dr. David Horwitz, historian, professor and Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery board member.

March 2009 Events & Tours

2009-02-25T13:07:00.016-05:00

LAUREL HILL CEMETERY & THE FRIENDS OF LAUREL HILL
Present
THE VICTORIAN CELEBRATION OF DEATH

During the Victorian period, the burial customs and places used by western society changed greatly and for a variety of reasons. Join us for a discussion inside Laurel Hill’s historic Gatehouse concerning the rituals surrounding the death of a loved one, including clothing, burial processions, monuments and symbolism. Following this, a tour of the cemetery will highlight monuments and gravestones illustrating the mourning symbolism discussed earlier. The program will focus on individuals who lived (and died) in this period, such as famed painter Thomas Sully and publisher of the Saturday Evening Post, Louis Antoine Godey.

The Victorian Celebration of Death, a walking tour of Laurel Hill Cemetery, will take place on Sunday, March 8th at 2:00pm. The cost is $15 per person, $12 for members, $8 for students, and children are free. The program will be led by Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery board members and guides, Ed and Mary Quinn.

LAUREL HILL CEMETERY & THE FRIENDS OF LAUREL HILL
Present
B’FORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU’RE DEAD:
A TOUR AND TOAST TO ST. PATRICK

Though dead men tell no tales, there are two places that we can learn much about them: the wake-house and Laurel Hill Cemetery. Join us at the latter, as we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, while honoring the heritage and accomplishments of our proudest Irish souls, now gone to their final reward. ‘Tis a festive occasion to be enjoyed by the living, for earth has no sorrows that heaven cannot heal! So, while we await healing, let us tip our hats, take our drinks, and expand our minds at Laurel Hill!

B’fore the Devil Knows You’re Dead, a walking tour, will take place on Saturday, March 14th at 2:00pm. The program will be led by Laurel Hill Superintendent and bona fide Irishman, Bill Doran. Afterwards, join us in our historic Gatehouse, where the beer will be plenty and the ‘spirits’ will be merry. The program cost is $25 per person. As space is limited, advance reservations are requested. Please call 215-228-8200 to reserve a space for you and your lucky lad or lass.

LAUREL HILL CEMETERY & THE FRIENDS OF LAUREL HILL
Present
THE QUICK and THE DEAD: PHILADELPHIA’S TRANSPORTATION HISTORY

When 30,000 people a season visited Laurel Hill in the mid-1800s, they had many different travel choices: boat, train, carriage and streetcar. This tour will introduce you to the owners, builders, and inventors of all of these varied modes of transportation that made our nation unified. Philadelphia was a driving force as the industrial capital of the world, and transportation was the key. Meet the Traction Twins: Mr. Elkins and Mr. Widener, among many others who contributed and profited through transportation.

The Quick and The Dead, a walking tour of Laurel Hill Cemetery, will take place on Sunday, March 22nd at 2:00pm. The program will be led by David Horwitz, Ph.D., professor at the Community College of Philadelphia, and board member of the Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery. The cost is $15 per person; $12 for members; $8 for students; and children are free.

LAUREL HILL CEMETERY & THE FRIENDS OF LAUREL HILL
Present
CLASSY BROADS AND DARING DAMES: COMMEMORATING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

What do a ballerina, a sculptor, a maker of pyrotechnic devices, and a kindergarten leader have in common? First, they’re all buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery. Second, they all happen to be women whose accomplishments in life have been largely neglected, devalued and forgotten throughout history… But, we are now working to right this wrong, unearthing their stories, and ensuring that they are told for all to hear! Join us for this inspiring tour and meet some of the many classy broads and daring dames who now call Laurel Hill home.

Classy Broads and Daring Dames, a walking tour of Laurel Hill Cemetery, will take place on Sunday, March 29th at 2:00pm. The tour will be guided by Carol Yaster, Board President of the Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery, as well as a classy broad and daring dame herself. The program cost is $15 per person; $12 for members; $8 for students; and children are free.

New Linocut Card: Lea Monument

2009-02-16T13:18:00.010-05:00

Philadelphia artist Suzanne Francis has produced another original linocut card for Laurel Hill's store. These 5.5 x 8.5" blank cards feature the Lea monument (sculptor: Alexander Stirling Calder). Support both Francis & Laurel Hill with a purchase of this new design or one of her other Laurel Hill Cemetery cards!

Winter 2009 at Laurel Hill

2009-01-28T15:11:00.010-05:00

The footprints in the snow are testament to the number of visitors braving the cold wet to explore and record Laurel Hill today - she is very beautiful at this time of the year because the elements can cause severe visual contrast. Use caution while on the grounds in winter; even without the ice to contend with, navigating the Cemetery's uneven, hilly grounds can be challenging!

2009 Internship at Laurel Hill Cemetery

2009-01-27T08:14:00.005-05:00

Brian F. Kane, a student currently completing his Bachelor of Integrative Arts at Penn State Abington, has joined Laurel Hill Cemetery for an internship. During his time at the Cemetery, he will be researching and developing a new tour as well as assisting with the site's museum and educational programs. To follow his experiences at Laurel Hill, you can visit his blog. We're excited to have him here!

As of today, there remain 5 open spaces in our Tour Guide Training. Scheduled for Saturday, February 7th, this is a great opportunity to become involved with Laurel Hill Cemetery. Please contact the office for more information about the training and our other volunteer opportunities.

February 2009 Tours

2009-01-16T09:23:00.018-05:00

THE FRIENDS OF LAUREL HILL PRESENT
TIL DEATH DO US PART: THE LOVE STORIES OF LAUREL HILL

Love and Death…The preferred subjects of poets and philosophers across eras and oceans…Subjects intertwined in their great mystery, in their power to inspire, to destroy, and to change our worlds forever.

Some may contend that Death can not bring an end to true Love, while others deem only Love itself to be colder, more unforgiving than Death. The love stories of Laurel Hill are as varied as the hearts from which they have sprung…Hearts no longer intact, though perhaps still beating…for someone…somewhere.

Join us in honoring the “spirit” of Valentines’ Day for The Love Stories of Laurel Hill, a walking tour of Laurel Hill Cemetery to take place on Saturday, February 14th at 2:00pm. The event will be guided by Gwen Kaminski, the cemetery’s Director of Development and Programming. While many of the stories we’ll hear may certainly warm our hearts, the rest of our appendages will be subject to the stone-cold of a cemetery winter. Please dress appropriately. Hot beverages will be provided at the start of the program; red wine and sultry bites will warm your flesh afterwards.

The program cost is $25 per person. As space is limited, advance reservations are requested. Please call 215-228-8200, or email tours@thelaurelhillcemetery.org, to reserve a space for you and your beloved.

THE FRIENDS OF LAUREL HILL PRESENT
DESIGNING FOR THE DEAD:
LAUREL HILL’S ART AND ARCHITECTURE

Noted architects like John Notman, William Strickland, Frank Furness, John J. McArthur, C.C. Zantzinger, Horace Trumbauer and Napoleon LeBrun competed fiercely for the chance to design for the dead. Join us on a walking tour of Laurel Hill Cemetery, where we will see monuments created by these early architects, as well as artists such as Alexander Milne Calder, his son Alexander Stirling Calder, and sculptress Harriet Frishmuth, whose works grace many of Laurel Hill’s memorials. Tour stops will also include the gravesites of portraitist Thomas Sully and watercolorist William Trost Richards. The tour will examine changing tastes and fashions in grave markers over the past two centuries, from the classical obelisks and urns of the Federal period, to the richly decorated crosses of the Gothic Revival, to the massive mausoleums of the Gilded Age.

Designing for the Dead, a walking tour of Laurel Hill Cemetery, will take place on Sunday, February 22nd at 2:00pm. The tour will be guided by Thomas Keels, author of well-known local histories including Philadelphia Graveyards and Cemeteries, and Forgotten Philadelphia: Lost Architecture of the Quaker City. The cost is $15 per person, $12 for members, $8 for students, and children are free.

THE FRIENDS OF LAUREL HILL CEMETERY PRESENT
KNOCKS, TAPS & RAPS:
THE SPIRITS & SPIRITUALISTS OF LAUREL HILL

In the 19th century, thousands of Philadelphians believed that they could communicate with the dead. All that it took was a darkened room, a circle of believers, and a sensitive medium. Other Philadelphians mocked the table-rappers and tried to expose their tricks. Both believers and skeptics are well represented in historic Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Along this tour, we will stop at the resting place of Catherine Drinkhouse Smith, whose monument proclaims her as “one of the best mediums of our time,” and at the grave of Adam Seybert, whose last will and testament allocated a large sum to the University of Pennsylvania for a study of the truths of spiritualism. We will also visit the grave of Horace H. Furness, the Shakespeare scholar who led an official inquiry into the claims of spiritualists, and at the hillside tomb of Elisha Kent Kane, the famed arctic explorer who scoffed at spiritualism but who fell in love with America’s most beautiful young medium.

Spirits and Spiritualists, a walking tour of Laurel Hill Cemetery, will take place on Saturday, February 28th at 2:00pm. The tour will be expertly guided by Dr. Michael Brooks, a professor at West Chester University, former board member of the Friends of Laurel Hill, and longtime docent for the cemetery. The cost is $15 per person, $12 for members, $8 for students, and children are free.

2009 Tour Guide Training

2009-01-07T09:44:00.003-05:00

January 2009 Tours

2008-12-23T09:23:00.014-05:00

THE FRIENDS OF LAUREL HILL CEMETERY PRESENT
RUMBLINGS OF FREEDOM:
THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF JOHN BROWN’S RAID
Join us for a program marking the 150th Anniversary of John Brown’s Raid at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. John Brown remains a controversial figure in American History. It is a fact that his actions oft times violent and bloody set the stage for the abolition of slavery and helped to precipitate the Civil War. There were a number of supporters of Abolition and admirers of John Brown in Philadelphia. Some assisted Brown in his work, while others opposed his ideals, or were spectators to the stirring events that led to his Raid. A number of these historical witnesses now rest peacefully in Laurel Hill Cemetery. Come and explore this mostly forgotten episode in our story of Emancipation and meet the people who were involved.

Rumblings of Freedom will take place on Sunday, January 11th at 2:00pm. The tour will be guided by Dr. Andy Waskie, of Temple University's Civil War & Emancipation Studies (CWEST). The cost is $15 per person, with discounts for members and students. Children are free.

THE FRIENDS OF LAUREL HILL CEMETERY PRESENT
UNEARTHING LAUREL HILL: A HISTORY WRITTEN IN STONE
An informative overview of Laurel Hill's long and colorful history, this tour will include all of the highlights, hot spots and notable stories that afford the cemetery its WOW factor. This is the ultimate tour for first-time visitors to Laurel Hill, and anyone else who likes beautiful art, stimulating history, and just enjoying life...even amongst the dead.

Unearthing Laurel Hill, a walking tour of the famed necropolis, will take place on Saturday, January 24th at 2:00pm. The tour will be guided by Dr. David Horwitz, historian, professor and Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery board member.

Start the 2008 New Year's Party Early...With General Meade!

2008-11-25T14:55:00.015-05:00

THE GENERAL MEADE SOCIETY & LAUREL HILL CEMETERY PRESENT
GENERAL MEADE’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION & NEW YEAR’S TOAST
The annual General Meade Birthday Celebration will mark the 193rd anniversary of the birth of General George G. Meade, commander of the Union Army at the Battle of Gettysburg. A parade of Civil War re-enactors, civilians in period attire, special dignitaries, heritage groups and participants will advance to Meade’s final resting place and memorialize his services to his nation. A 21-gun salute and champagne toast will cap off the program at graveside, and will be followed by a reception in the Cemetery Gatehouse. A tour of historic Laurel Hill will be offered following the festivities (weather permitting).

This year marks the 18th anniversary of the Meade Birthday Celebration, which will take place on Wednesday, December 31st at 12:00 NOON. The event will be hosted by the General Meade Society of Philadelphia and the Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery. Admission is free, and all are invited to get an early start on their New Year’s Eve festivities.

The General Meade Society’s mission is to promote and preserve the memory of Union Major General George Gordon Meade, commander of the Army of the Potomac and architect of the Union victory at Gettysburg. The society currently boasts hundreds of members throughout the country, all of whom share a common interest in General Meade’s multifaceted life and career.

2008 Holiday Gifts For Your Favorite Taphophile!

2008-11-24T11:32:00.022-05:00

Dying to find that perfect gift for the special taphophile in your life? Consider supporting Laurel Hill Cemetery with the purchase of an item from the Cemetery store! Receive a FREE Laurel Hill Cemetery sweatshirt (current sizes: S, M, L, XL) when you spend a minimum of $50.00. See below for some of our best-selling items...most of which are the perfect dimensions to be buried in a stocking.

Death Mints
Fresh Breath To Die For! These popular mints (100 count) come in an attractive coffin-shaped tin.
Price: $3.00

Laurel Hill Cemetery Mugs
Colder weather means warmer drinks. Fill your taphophile's very own LHC mug with hot chocolate, coffee, or tea.
Price: $10.00 for the black bistro mug; $8.00 for the panoramic mug

Stories in Stone
This full-color, hard cover, attractive (and stocking-shaped) book identifies and demystifies over 350 funerary symbols used on tombstones in cemeteries throughout the world. By Douglas Keister. A great gift for the novice or experienced cemetery enthusiast.
Price: $25.00

December 2008 Tours

2008-11-19T08:29:00.028-05:00

THE FRIENDS OF LAUREL HILL CEMETERY PRESENT
UNEARTHING LAUREL HILL: A HISTORY WRITTEN IN STONE

An informative overview of Laurel Hill's long and colorful history, this tour will include all of the highlights, hot spots and notable stories that afford the cemetery its WOW factor. This is the ultimate tour for first-time visitors to Laurel Hill, and anyone else who likes beautiful art, stimulating history, and just enjoying life...even amongst the dead.

Unearthing Laurel Hill, a walking tour of the famed necropolis, will take place on Sunday, December 14th at 2:00pm. The program will be co-guided by Dr. Joseph Edgette, board member of the Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery, and Rich Sauers, president of Lenape Investment Corporation. The cost is $15 per person, $12 for members, $8 for students, and children are free.

THE FRIENDS OF LAUREL HILL CEMETERY PRESENT
THE LANGUAGE OF THE DEAD: VICTORIAN FUNERARY SYMBOLISM
Victorian Philadelphians loved visual symbolism, and even their simplest grave markers are likely to be ornamented by ivy (for eternal life), lilies (for resurrection) or hour glasses (for brevity of life). Oftentimes, the symbolism is both lavish and individualized. A civic reformer is memorialized with a bas-relief showing the Schuylkill Canal and the Philadelphia Water Works. A prison reformer is celebrated with a grand model of Moyamensing Prison. A shattered column, a cavalry officer’s sword and a pair of spurs mark the resting place of one of the first soldiers to die at the Battle of Little Big Horn, infamously known as Custer’s Last Stand. A mother who died in childbirth is compellingly depicted clasping her two dead babies. Nineteenth-century Philadelphians understood Laurel Hill not only as a cemetery, but also as a vast sculptural garden and retreat. Accordingly, they came by the thousands to read the symbolic messages that the dead had left for the living.

The Language of the Dead, a walking tour of Laurel Hill Cemetery, will take place on Saturday, December 6th at 2:00pm. The tour will be expertly guided by Dr. Michael Brooks, a professor at West Chester University, former board member of the Friends of Laurel Hill, and longtime docent for the cemetery. The cost is $15 per person; $12 members; $8 students; and children are free.

Photograph: This image is by photographer John A. Benigno. To view more of his Laurel Hill Cemetery photographs, visit his Flickr page.

2008 Art Exhibition To Benefit Laurel Hill Cemetery

2008-11-17T15:15:00.012-05:00

Top L-R: Julia Blaukopf, Jenny Lynn, John Loy
Bottom L-R: Lauren Simonutti, Beth Medoway
All work executed on 20 cm square panels.

A Square Deal's latest exhibition, Scary But True - Size Does Matter (And Smaller Can Be Better), can still be viewed until November 30th. A portion of each sale will benefit the Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery, so please consider supporting the Cemetery AND local artists!

Where: Charlie Salon
203 S. 12th Street
Philadelphia
(between Walnut and Locust Streets)

2008 Flickr - We want YOUR pictures!

2008-11-10T14:55:00.001-05:00

Laurel Hill has a Flickr group. We invite you to share your Laurel Hill photos, artwork and stories; we want your perspective and viewpoint; we want to see the variety of ways in which you access and explore the Cemetery. Share your vision!

November 2008 Tours

2008-11-10T09:28:00.004-05:00

Learn about the philanthropic deeds of these do-gooders with big wallets and bigger hearts in Philanthropic Philadelphians, a walking tour of Laurel Hill Cemetery to take place on Sunday, November 23rd at 2:00pm. The tour will be guided by Dr. David Horwitz, historian, professor and Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery board member. The cost of the tour is $15 per person, with discounts for members and students. Children are free.

Reflect on one of the nation’s most historic elections in a tour of one of our city’s most historic sites. The Union League is THE historic bastion of PHILADELPHIA’S BUSINESS and POLITICAL ELITE. Walking through the vast sections of Laurel Hill Cemetery, it is virtually impossible to avoid bumping into Union League members, so to speak…or at least their gravestones and mausoleums. In the 21st century, it can be difficult to understand the importance of The Union League to the history of the Civil War, to the city, the state, and even our nation. History, after all, is made and recorded by people, and many of these Union League members have been long forgotten…The passage of time has taken its toll on the memories of the living, while these dead rest comfortably and eternally in Laurel Hill.

This walking tour will take place on Sunday, November 16th at 2:00 PM. The tour will be guided by Jim Mundy, the Director of Library & Historical Collections at The Union League and board president of the Friends of Laurel Hill. The program cost is $15 per person, with discounts for members and students; children are free.