Laurel Hill and West Laurel Hill Cemetery

Laurel Hill Cemetery was laid out on a series of winding paths above the Schuylkill River in 1836. In an era when cemeteries were built intentionally in scenic areas to invite visitors and family of the deceased to walk the grounds and spend time enjoying the peaceful landscapes, it lays claim to being the first architecturally designed cemetery in the country.

Laurel Hill was the cemetery of the elite, a popular burial place for Civil War generals, including George Meade, the Union victor at Gettysburg. West Laurel Hill opened when Laurel Hill needed to expand.