Rural Cemetery, Worcester

Rural Cemetery, located on Grove Street in Worcester, is one of the city's most historically significant burial grounds. Established in 1838, it was part of a broader movement inspired by Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which introduced the concept of landscaped “rural cemeteries” with rolling terrain, classical monuments, and lush greenery.

The idea for the cemetery came in 1837 when Edward D. Bangs proposed a new burial ground to replace the neglected and overcrowded older cemeteries. David Waldo, a local benefactor, purchased and donated the initial 24-acre plot of rolling, tree-covered land, formerly owned by Judge Timothy Paine. The cemetery was officially incorporated by an act of the Massachusetts legislature, signed by Governor Edward Everett. Today, it has expanded to cover 40 acres.

From the beginning, the Rural Cemetery was designed as a serene and dignified final resting place, with dedicated garden spaces, carefully planned landscaping, and tree-lined pathways. This picturesque setting became a model for other rural cemeteries across the country in the mid-19th century.

More than 13,000 people are buried at Rural Cemetery, including Revolutionary War and Civil War veterans, congressmen, governors, mayors, industrialists, and philanthropists who played key roles in Worcester’s development. It remains an active cemetery, preserving both the memory of the past and the evolving history of the city.