Mount Auburn Cemetery, Massachusetts, United States

5.0 (621 reviews) Tuesday: 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Ranking #1 in Cambridge Cemeteries

A quintessential hidden gem

Mount Auburn Cemetery was founded in 1831 as America's first landscaped cemetery. A National Historic Landmark, its renowned landscape inspired the creation of the nation's public parks. Mount Auburn was designated an Important Bird Area by the Massachusetts Audubon Society, reinforcing its status as a significant wildlife sanctuary. Still an active burial place, Mount Auburn Cemetery provides comfort and solace to countless families. The Friends of Mount Auburn Cemetery was established in 1986 to assist in the conservation of the Cemetery's natural beauty and to promote the appreciation of its cultural, historic, and natural resources. Over 100 public programs are offered annually by the Friends to educate, enrich, and inspire the community. The Friends seeks financial support for education and interpretive programs and materials for the public, specific cultural projects, and operational support for horticultural rejuvenation and the preservation of the historic monuments, structures, and archival artifacts and records.

Address

580 Mount Auburn St, Cambridge, MA 02138-5529

Mobile

+1 617-547-7105

Website

http://mountauburn.org

Email

[email protected]

Working hours

Monday : 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday : 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday : 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday : 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday : 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday : 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday : 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Current local date and time now

Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 13:26

User Ratings

5.0 based on (621 reviews)

Excellent

80%

Good

17%

Satisfactory

Poor

Terrible

Reviews

5S B 5:00 PM Jun 21, 2022
Hidden gem and glimpse of history
We came here to visit the statue and grave of Nathaniel Bowditch and Longfellow's last resting place, only two of the approximately 1000 famous people buried here. Yet, this is so much more than a cemetery. One could get lost in reading gravestones and totally miss the fabulous flora that makes this a day in a park rather than a morbid experience among the dead. There are many birds and chipmunks that clearly enjoyed the peaceful place as much as we did. It is worth climbing Washington Tower (90+ steps) to get a 360 degree view over the canopy and see Boston, the Charles River and its surroundings. We succeeded in locating the Bowditch family grave; make sure to pick up a map at information to help you navigate the extensive grounds. Unfortunately, Indian Ridge the place of Longfellow's last rest, is closed to visitors June - October 2022 as it is being restored. Nevertheless, this was an unexpected gem and we could have easily spent more than the 2 hours we had allocated. If you are curious if some of your ancestors are buried here, the web app makes searching for graves easy. Be aware that this is an active cemetery and funerals may be in progress during your visit.
5Span_pro 5:00 PM Feb 8, 2020
Great place to get away, see beauty of the grounds, go back through history
My daughter lives fairly close by, and she has taken us out walking several times here. The grounds are lovely and very well kept, and every time we go, we discover something new. Many famous and near-famous people here (last time, we saw the monument to Mary Baker Eddy), so it's like a history lesson as well. A great place to escape the city, get some exercise, do some quiet conversing or thinking.