The Granary Burial Ground – Boston

Of all the places we visited in Boston, this was my favourite. Here in the middle of a modern city lay a burial ground, a cemetery. At its gates, taxis sounded, people strode on by and the hustles of modern life went on unabated.

Granary Burial Ground in the Heart of Boston
Peace in the Heart of Boston

Step inside and one enters a different world altogether. There was peace and a lot of history. It is here that many leading revolutionaries are buried, including Samuel Adams, John Hancock and Paul Revere, as well as victims of the Boston Massacre.  And as cars, trucks and buses sped by, one could take time to read the old gravestones and watch the leaves descend to the ground. An oasis in the city.

It was interesting to see some of the earlier headstones which featured skulls, crossbones and other, almost ghoul like, images; simply the style of stone inscriptions of the day.

Grave stones in the Granary Burial Ground
Skulls to the Fore

 

The stone which captured my attention belonged to a little baby boy called Samuell, who only made it to ten weeks before dying in April 1699.

A small headstone dated 1699 in Granary Burial Ground
April 1699

So if you are looking for a quiet oasis in the middle of Boston then head straight for the Granary Burial Ground, just by Park Street Church at the top of the Common, along Tremont Street. It’s right on the Freedom Trail.

An old gravestone stands solid in the Granary burial ground as the City of Boston rushes by
Standing Still in the Heart of Boston

The Cemetery is open on the Tremont Street side, but along its other three borders, buildings tower above the ancient headstones. I particularly liked the fire stairway and brown leafed creeper on one red bricked corner.

granarycemetery-4

For me this is the number one, must see sight in all of Boston. So if you go to Boston, please don’t miss this oasis in the heart of the City.

Granary Burial Ground with a carpet of russet leaves (Boston)
City Centre Tranquility

18 thoughts on “The Granary Burial Ground – Boston”

  1. Wonderful place, isn’t it! I’m so delighted you got to enjoy it, not least of all the marvels and history of that cemetery. There are of course a number of fabulous burying grounds in Boston, but I’ve only seen a couple of them on my few short visits thus far. Looking forward to the next and others. You’ve caught the spirit (no pun intended) of this place so beautifully.
    Cheers!
    Kathryn

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    1. Thanks Kathryn. We also visited the burial ground at King’s Chapel which is the oldest in Boston as well as the one on the edge of Boston Common – which I think may be the second oldest. The Granary Burial Ground is only the third oldest in Boston, but the one which had the most appeal for me. Thank you for your kind words Kathryn and hope all is good with you on the other side of our planet, MM 🍀

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  3. Interesting – in Wells Cathedral there’s an effigy of a departed cleric, fleshed and clothed, while lying underneath is the same figure, but just a skeleton. I think they must have had a greater sense of their own mortality back then.

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    1. Absolutely, it is almost depicting what is there underneath – the skull and bones, just saying it as it us. But to us it is a bit more creepy, ghoul like….Am not familiar with Wells Cathedral, time for a visit?? 🍀

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      1. It’s a lovely place – Wells, smallest city in Uk. The cathedral has the most amazing scissor arch, a medieval architect’s solution to stabilising the tower that was twisting out of line. It looks so modern (in a good way). We’re about 10 miles away if you ever need a bed for the night!

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