Founded in 1836 this was the first cemetery in the US to be named a National Historic Landmark. Numerous prominent Philadelphians are buried here, including David Rittenhouse and Frank Furness. A packed schedule of tours, usually between Friday to Sunday, provides insight into a burial ground that is famed for its historical landscape gardening.

You can also download a free app to your smartphone for self-guided tours of the 78 acres.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Historic Strawberry Mansion

0.62 MILES

The largest historic house in the Fairmount Park, Strawberry Mansion features a Federal-style main section built in the 1790s with disproportionately…

2. Woodford Mansion

0.7 MILES

Begun in 1756, this Georgian mansion was built in several stages and completed in the 1770s. It houses a fine collection of colonial furniture and…

3. Mount Pleasant

1.48 MILES

This 1764 mansion was described by John Adams in 1775 'as the most elegant seat in Pennsylvania.' The Georgian building is closed for general maintenance,…

4. Fairmount Park

1.52 MILES

The snaking Schuylkill River bisects this 2050-acre green space, the largest city park in the US, splitting it into east and west sections. On either side…

5. Belmont Mansion

1.6 MILES

From the lawns surrounding the 18th-century Belmont Mansion there's a panoramic view of the city skyline. The mansion, administered by the American Women…

6. Church of the Advocate

1.8 MILES

A fine example of Gothic Revival architecture, this 1897 Episcopal church was a center of activism during the Civil Rights movement and the site of the…

7. Historic Rittenhouse Town

1.83 MILES

For over 200 years eight generations of the Rittenhouse family lived and worked in this historic village along the Monoshone and Wissahickon Creeks. Tours…