City: Cambridge, MA

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (617) 547-7105

Address: 580 Mount Auburn St.

Insider Pick:

Description: This cemetery is an otherworldly jewel that is much more than a final resting place. Founded in 1831 and covering more than 175 acres, this designated National Historic Landmark was inspired by the landscape style of Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. You can pay your respects to the earthly remains of many 18th- and 19th-century Boston notables including Charles Bulfinch, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Isabella Stewart Gardner, Winslow Homer, Fanny Farmer, and Asa Gray. Walk along the winding paths bordered by majestic trees and gardens and note the intricate headstones and grand crypts popular in Victorian Boston. Climb the 95 steps of Washington Tower for a terrific panoramic view of Boston and Cambridge. A map is available at the front entrance gate, or you can download a walking tour and cemetery plot locations to your smart phone. There are also regularly scheduled historic tours and bird walks. Mount Auburn is a birding hot spot—turns out that Mount Auburn’s abundant green space provides a wonderful refuge for birds as well.