Take a tour of Green Mount Cemetery, one of the earliest rural or garden cemeteries in the United States. Samuel Walker, a Baltimore tobacco merchant, visited the garden-like Mount Auburn Cemetery in 1834 and came home with a mission to fund a similarly styled cemetery here. The land was purchased four years later and the cemetery was officially dedicated on July 13, 1839.
These garden cemeteries were unique and not laid out in the normal grid pattern. Designed in the “picturesque” style, the cemeteries mimicked English country estates with winding paths and streets, vistas and scenic overlooks, various water features, and a landscape enhanced by planting thousands of trees and ornamental shrubs. The gardens were so beautiful that thousands of city dwellers spent Sunday afternoons picnicking and strolling in their new “park.” We’ll also learn about gravestone symbolism and the hidden meanings behind the veils, clasped hands, anchors, and flowers decorating the many monuments.
Nearly 65,000 people are buried here, including John Wilkes Booth and two other conspirators in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, the poet Sydney Lanier, philanthropists Johns Hopkins and Enoch Pratt, and numerous military, political, and business leaders. One of the inventors of the Ouija Board, Elijah Bond, lies here overlooking the original factory.
Remember
- Our meeting location can be found in your registration confirmation email when payment is complete.
- Dress according to the weather. Layers of clothing work best. Include a hat for sun protection or warmth, depending on the season.
- Wear comfortable shoes that can handle walking through wet grass.
- Bring water, snacks, sunblock, bug spray, and your camera with accessories.
- No pets, please.
NEW – Payment and Cancellation Policy: Payment is due online at the time of registration. Cancellations made seven or more days in advance of the event will receive a refund minus a 5% processing fee. Cancellations made within seven days of the event will not receive a refund. Events and field trips with fees of $10 or less are not refundable at any time unless canceled by NHSM. NHSM retains the right to update or change these requirements at any time.
For questions, please email Jayne at JAsh@marylandnature.org.