Home > SPECIAL EVENTS > Day of Our Dead: Marking the 175th Anniversary of Laurel Hill's First Burial

• Tweet
• Outlook
• ICAL
• PRINT
• Email
• Feedback

• RSS

• Official Website
• Buy Tickets

Day of Our Dead: Marking the 175th Anniversary of Laurel Hill's First Burial

Presented by Laurel Hill Cemetery at Laurel Hill Cemetery

October 21, 2011

Comment on Facebook

175 years ago, a Quaker woman of the name Mercy Carlisle learned of the new and promising cemetery then under construction outside of Philadelphia’s city limits. Though ailing, she found strength to travel to the site they were calling Laurel Hill, and in touring its emerging landscape had, according to our founder, “expressed her decided wish to be interred under the group of four large pine trees…near the center of the plot (Sec. E, #1).” Not long after, on October 21, 1836, Laurel Hill Cemetery’s earth was opened for the very first time to receive Mercy’s remains.

Join Laurel Hill exactly 175 years to the day of its first burial as they honor the memories of their dead. Each participant will light a candle in solemn remembrance of their own family members, beloved friends and precious pets whose spirits have passed on. After the ceremony, toast to the lives of the dead in an informal reception to include the “stuff” of mortality: food, drink and music. Nighttime tours of the cemetery will be offered.