Cambridge

Oh right! I have a blog!

A couple of weeks ago, Dave and I went out to Mt Auburn Cemetery. It might sound a little morbid, but it's actually one of the most beautiful places I've been in Boston. It was founded in 1831 as the first large-scale designed landscape open to the public in the United States, and it's credited with beginning the American public parks and gardens movement. Many famous people, including Buckminster Fuller, Isabella Stewart Gardener, Mary Baker Eddy, and Julia Ward Howe are buried there. It's 174 acres of trees, flowers, and birds, and it's one of the most peaceful places I've ever been. Amazingly, it's still in use today as a non-denominational burying ground, open to people of all economic levels.

I have a set on Flickr, but here are a few of my favorites:

A Civil War memorial:

This was really interesting. It appeared to be an empty plot, but apparently it's full. The Scots' Charitable Society is the oldest non-profit in the US and was founded in 1657 to assist with the burial of indigent Scottish immigrants, primarily indentured workers. They now provide academic scholarships and financial assistance to people in need.

Just a nice view: