Grave Landscapes: The Nineteenth-Century Rural Cemetery Movement

Growing urban populations prompted major changes in graveyard location, design, and use

During the Industrial Revolution people flocked to American cities. Overcrowding in these areas led to packed urban graveyards that were not only unsightly, but were also a source of public health fears. The solution was a revolutionary new type of American burial ground located in the countryside just beyond the city. This rural cemetery movement, which featured beautifully landscaped grounds and sculptu...