Oakwood Cemetery, Syracuse

Oakwood Cemetery in Syracuse is a 160-acre historic burial ground established in 1859 and designed by prominent landscape architect Howard Daniels. Conceived during the height of the rural cemetery movement, Oakwood was meant to serve as both a peaceful resting place for the dead and a cultivated, contemplative space for the living. Daniels shaped the cemetery to follow the natural topography-hills, slopes, and springs-preserving dense groves of oak, pine, ash, and maple. His vision followed the 19th-century picturesque ideal, blending nature and architecture to create a place of reflection and respite.

From its dedication, Oakwood was embraced by the community. Its popularity led to regular omnibus service, and expansions were carefully developed to match the spirit of the original design. The cemetery became not just a place of mourning, but also a space for learning and cultural appreciation. A grand array of monuments, mausoleums, and sculptures reflect the wealth and aesthetic values of Syracuse’s 19th-century families, making Oakwood a de facto open-air museum of funerary art and architecture.

The cemetery remains vital today, adjacent to Syracuse University and SUNY-ESF, where students study plant species, insects, and mammals within its grounds. The J.L. Silsbee-designed mortuary chapel and other structures continue to add architectural value, while Syracuse University’s digitization project ensures the preservation of its historic records. Oakwood’s blend of natural beauty, artistic legacy, and educational function makes it one of the most distinguished examples of a rural cemetery in the United States.