The Forgotten Cemeteries of Our Cities: Rediscovering History and Restoring Heritage

Cemeteries are often overlooked and forgotten places in our cities. These final resting places hold the remains of our ancestors, and they deserve to be respected and remembered. However, many cemeteries have been neglected over time due to urbanization or lack of funding for maintenance. In this post, we will explore some of the forgotten cemeteries that still exist in our cities.

One such cemetery is Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia. The cemetery was established in 1855 and was one of the largest cemeteries in the city at that time. However, as the city expanded, people began to move away from the area surrounding Mount Moriah Cemetery, leaving it abandoned and neglected. Today, the cemetery is overgrown with weeds and has fallen into disrepair.

Another forgotten cemetery is Evergreen Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. Established in 1849, it was once a beautiful place where families could visit their loved ones who had passed away. Unfortunately, due to financial troubles and mismanagement by its owners, Evergreen Cemetery fell into a state of disrepair. Many tombstones have been destroyed or stolen by vandals over time.

In St Louis Missouri lies Greenwood Cemetery which opened its gates for burials since 1874 but ceased operations after running out of funds for maintaining it since 1977; however interments continued until around 1987 when it finally closed down completely after having no more space left on its grounds.

These are just a few examples of forgotten cemeteries across America’s major cities; other examples include Laurel Hill Cemetery (Philadelphia), Woodlawn Cemetery (New York City), Oakwood Memorial Park (Raleigh NC) among others all share similar stories that led them towards being abandoned despite serving communities before now left unkempt as nature reclaims these sacred spaces.

As urban explorers or concerned citizens living near these sites visiting them may not only help rediscover their history but also may help raise awareness and funds for restoring these sites as they are a crucial part of our cities’ heritage and that of the families whose loved ones rest there. It’s important to remember and honor those that came before us, even if they have been forgotten by time.