Burial Hill Cemetery (1622)

Burial Hill 2Burial Hill Cemetery (1622).

School Street

Burial Hill is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The hill has been used for burials by Plymouth residents since the 1620s.

The first English settlers (known as "The Pilgrims") built their first fort/meeting house here.

Here, Mayflower passengers are buried including Governor William Bradford and William and Mary Brewster. The last burial took place in 1957.

The Earliest grave markers were of carved wood, and do not survive today. Stone Markers were likely used starting in the mid-seventeenth century. Today, the oldest known stone on Burial Hill is that of Edward Gray, 1681.

These early stone markers are valuable historic documents, and many are irreplaceable works of folk art. As you walk through Burial Hill, please remember that this is historic and sacred ground, which deserves care and respect. Many stones have a better chance of survival if they are not touched. We appreciate your cooperation.

Links

Notable Grave Sites

Files

  1. Burial Hill Map Book 1 of 2 (PDF)
  2. Burial Hill Map Book 2 of 2 (PDF)
  3. Burial Hill National Register Nomination (PDF)
  4. Burial Hill Poster with Numbered Graves (PDF)
Burial Hill Cemetery Map