When we talk about the impact of cemeteries on families and communities, we often talk about how cemeteries function as gathering places. But there’s actually a historical precedent for cemeteries being places where people could come together in beautiful, tranquil locations. That’s because the first cemeteries in the United States weren’t cemeteries at all—they were parks.
The First Cemetery and Its Impact
In the 19th century, the United States was facing a dilemma. Families no longer knew where to bury their loved ones. It was common to bury loved ones on church grounds, which were becoming overcrowded. They were also not getting the maintenance they needed, which was dangerous as it was believed that these areas were spreading disease. An idea arose of moving the dead out of crowded city centers and into more rural areas, which is how Mount Auburn Cemetery, a large burial ground in Cambridge, Massachusetts, came to be our first official rural or garden cemetery in 1831. With it came a movement toward a new type of burial ground.
Throughout the 19th century, it wasn’t uncommon for people to use these cemeteries as public parks. It was an interesting juxtaposition as these burial grounds were considered cities of the dead, but at the same time, they rejected city life. When you visited a cemetery, you were welcomed in with greenery, picturesque views, and art. These cemeteries were built at a time when there weren’t public parks or art museums, so they fulfilled these roles in many ways.
Although we often only go to cemeteries today to visit loved ones, families in the 19th century frequently would visit just because they wanted to spend the day in a beautiful setting, picnicking, carriage racing, and simply enjoying the comfortable, peaceful location. However, over time, there started to be a separation between the living and the dead. Usually, large gates would mark the entrance to the section of the cemetery where the dead rested, with there being ample space elsewhere for the living to enjoy the beauty of the cemetery.
At the start of the 20th century, the attitude toward cemeteries started to shift. As the population climbed in many areas that had cemeteries, city planners focused less on where to place those who had already passed and more on those who were still living.
Cemeteries were deprioritized, and those that were built were placed on the outskirts of town, where the population was still low. However, these city planners also recognized that city dwellers wanted outdoor public spaces. Some burial grounds were covered and turned into public parks, further differentiating the idea of a cemetery from the concept of a park, though they were once treated as one and the same.
Today, we still believe that cemeteries should be gathering places where visitors find comfort and peace. Though many no longer treat cemeteries as recreational spaces, we can still gather there to enjoy time with one another, nature, and the memory of our loved ones.