The history behind Laurel Hill Cemetery, America's 2nd-oldest rural burial ground

Laurel Hill Cemetery is America's second-oldest rural cemetery.

It was established in 1836 by John Jay Smith when he was unable to find a respectable resting place in the city for his daughter.


Philadelphia and other cities were running out of space to bury their dead, creating the rural cemetery movement.

Three and a half miles outside the city, the cemetery became a destination hotspot. In a time before parks, it was a place where you could see art and nature in one place.

It's popularity increased when celebrities of the time were being reinterred to Laurel Hill.


Watch the rise and fall of Laurel Hill Cemetery and how it became a destination once again.

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