Evergreen Cemetery, Portland

Evergreen Cemetery is the largest cemetery in Maine, sprawling across 239 acres. Established in 1855 in what was then Westbrook, the cemetery stands as a prominent example of the 19th-century rural cemetery movement, featuring winding carriage paths, ponds, gardens, and extensive wooded wetlands.

Its 140-acre historic section was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992, reflecting the site’s architectural and cultural significance.

Designed by Charles H. Howe, Evergreen was inspired by Mount Auburn Cemetery in Massachusetts and helped influence the development of urban parks in America.

The cemetery is home to a vast collection of funerary art, boasting over 40,000 monuments ranging from simple gravestones to large, artistically significant mausoleums such as the Classical Revival Chisholm Tomb, modeled after a Roman temple in France.

With an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 people interred, including notable women like Margaret Jane Mussey Sweat and Adeline Bond Rines, Evergreen continues to serve as an active municipal cemetery.

Beyond its cultural and historical value, Evergreen Cemetery is also recognized as a premier birdwatching sanctuary, offering a serene natural retreat within the city. Its diverse landscape-with a mix of curving historic paths and newer rectilinear sections-invites visitors to explore its country lanes, wooded trails, and peaceful greenspaces. With its blend of artistry, history, and nature, Evergreen remains a cherished landmark in Portland.