When you think of traditional tourist attractions, places like theme parks, museums and landmarks often are the first to come to mind. Rarely do you picture a cemetery. But Mount Auburn Cemetery is, without a doubt, one of Boston's most beloved tourist attractions. A designated National Landmark, Mount Auburn Cemetery acts as both a gateway to the past and a connection to the future. Boston rent a car travelers are invited to discover this unique destination as part of a historically themed Massachusetts vacation.

A quick look at the past

Founded in 1831, the Mount Auburn Cemetery was the first large-scale designed landscape open to the public in the United States of America. Designed with the understanding that the dead should be commemorated in a tranquil and beautiful natural setting, the Mount Auburn Cemetery is an amazing feat of urban planning and landscaping. A place of eternal peace, Mount Auburn is also a place for living "embellishing" like ornamental plantings, monuments, fences and fountains. All of these decorative elements remain an important part of the cemetery, and are on display for Boston rent a car travelers to enjoy.

A closer look at the architecture

Boston rent a car travelers will find a uniquely intact 19th century landscape at the Mount Auburn Cemetery, complete with restored buildings dating back to the 1830s. The earliest structure on the grounds is the Egyptian Revival Gateway, which stands at the ceremonial entrance to Mount Auburn. Other sites of interest include the Bigelow Chapel, Washington Tower and Story Chapel. Boston rent a car travelers will also discover a number of unique sculptures in the cemetery. Over 30,000 monuments can be found throughout the cemetery and include works by first generation American sculptors. Gravestones, brownstone monuments and vernacular memorial art can all be found within the boundaries of Mount Auburn.

Beauty in death

Believe it or not, Mount Auburn is one of the most beautiful and historical landscapes in America. Boston rent a car travelers will discover some 5,000 trees on the property as well as thousands of shrubs and herbaceous plants. When it's all said and done, the cemetery covers more than 175 acres and is comprised of woodlands, dells, ponds and clearings. Plant species from all over the world can be seen on the grounds, making the cemetery a point of interest for a wide range of botanists and horticulturalists. Boston rent a car travelers are invited to participate in some of the cemetery's interpretive programs in order to learn more about the landscapes unique composition.

Information about visiting the cemetery

The Mount Auburn Cemetery is a privately owned institution; however, its grounds and historical collections are open to the public all year round. Boston rent a car travelers are welcome in the cemetery from 8am to 5pm October through April. During the months of May, June, July and August, the grounds remain open until 7pm. If it's your first time visiting the cemetery, Boston rent a car travelers may wish to stop at the Entrance Gate and pick up a cemetery map. And remember that although Mount Auburn is open to the public as a tourist attraction, it is still an active burial place. Boston rent a car visitors are expected to behave appropriately.

Directions to Mount Auburn

Boston rent a car travelers will find the Mount Auburn Cemetery at 580 Mount Auburn Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts. To get there from Boston, take Storrow Drive West (past the Harvard Square Exit). Take the exit marked Arlington, Fresh Pond Parkway. As you cross over Charles River, bear right onto Eliot Bridge following the signs to Arlington, Fresh Pond Parkway. At the traffic lights, get into the left lane and follow the signs to Route 16 West, Watertown. At the next traffic light you will want to bear left onto Mount Auburn Street. The entrance to the cemetery will be on your left.