Looking for a scary good time? You won’t have to walk far to find a cemetery in Boston — our city is home to 16 historic burial grounds + three active cemeteries.
From the oldest one to the people who lie within, we’re sharing facts you might not have known about these six local cemeteries.
King’s Chapel Burying Ground
This historic graveyard on Tremont Street was established in 1630 and is the oldest graveyard in the city. It’s the final resting place for John Winthrop (the first Governor of Massachusetts), William Dawes (Paul Revere’s wingman on his ride to Lexington), and Mary Chilton (believed to be the first woman to step off the Mayflower).
Granary Burying Ground
Founded in 1660, the city’s third-oldest cemetery is also on Tremont Street. It contains ~2,345 gravestones + tombs and an obelisk in the center to honor the parents of Benjamin Franklin. Some of the most notable graves belong to Samuel Adams, John Hancock + Paul Revere.
Visit the Founding Father’s tombstone at Granary Burying Ground.
Photo by @erinstresow
Copp’s Hill Burying Ground
This historic North End cemetery, originally named “North Burying Ground,” was established in 1659 and holds over 10,000 people, mainly the neighborhood’s artisans and merchants. Rumor has it that the British military once used the headstones for target practice — take a closer look at Captain Daniel Malcolm’s grave.
Forest Hills Cemetery
This historic 275-acre rural cemetery, greenspace, and sculpture garden in Jamaica Plain was established in 1848. Keep an eye out for the markers of Anne Sexton, E.E. Cummings + Eugene O’Neill.
Central Burying Ground
Established on Boston Common in 1756, the ground can be found on Boylston Street between Tremont Street + Charles Street Central. Artist Gilbert Stuart, who painted the famous portraits of George and Martha Washington, is buried here.
Dorchester North Burying Ground
This cemetery was first laid out in 1634. It’s the final resting place of two colonial governors, including William Stoughton, who was the Chief Justice during the Salem Witch Trials.