51 Cemeteries Project: # 47 Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadephia PA

Laurel Hill Cemetery overlooks the Schuylkill River in the East Falls Neighborhood of Philadelphia. The cemetery was founded in 1836 and is spread out into three sections over 78 acres. For residents of the city of brotherly love, the cemetery has a number of events, tours and programs throughout the year. For more info check out their web site: http://www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org/

As I walked through this very historic cemetery, I was very surprised to come upon the grave of the famed Philadelphia Phillies play by play announcer Harry Kalis. Kalis passed away unexpectedly last year (2009) on opening day on the road in Washington DC at Nats Stadium. The year before (2008), Kalis was on the mike when the Phillies won the World Series, only their second championship teams history. Outside of Philly, Kalis was probably better known as the voice of NFL Films.

51 Cemeteries Project: #48 Historic Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh NC

Established in 1869, Historic Oakwood Cemetery is located close to the North Carolina state capitol in Raleigh. The cemetery contains as special area for Confederate soldiers, where close to 1500 soldiers are buried.

I visited the former Senators grave three weeks before he died.

The 102 acre cemetery is Raleigh's oldest, private, and non-profit cemetery. For more information check out their web site: http://www.historicoakwoodcemetery.com/

51 Cemeteries Project: #49 Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Lauderdale FL

The Evergreen Cemetery is located downtown Fort Lauderdale and was established in 1910. Even though it's only 100 years old, according to Broward County Cemetery Records web site, it's the oldest "intact" cemetery in the county.



The cemetery is next to an inlet, and there were a few dozen colorful ducks and geese roaming the grounds of the cemetery on this late afternoon January day.

51 Cemeteries Project: #50, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington VA

Arlington National Cemetery is one the most famous cemetery in the world. More than 300,000 Americans who served their country are buried here. These days, they conduct more than 20 funerals each day, and space is becoming a premium as wars battle on in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of the most popular locations to visit is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. These photos were taken during the changing of the guard.

Every Memorial Day, thousands of flags are placed in front of the graves by the soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Unit (also known as Old Guard) during a three hour ceremony called a "Flags-In"

Arlington National Cemetery is spread over 624 arces and it has the second-largest number of people buried at any of the 130 national cemeteries in the US. For more info on Arlington National Cemetery's rich history, check out its web site at http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/

51 Cemeteries Project: #51, Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington DC

Updated Photographs from April 2010

I have been visiting this cemetery for as long as I have lived in the Washington DC area. I originally came to see the famous sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens' "Adams Memorial," but later spent hours walking around this very old cemetery filled with some very cool headstones. It was established in 1719 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.


One late summer afternoon, I spent about 30 minutes following around these three deer around.

This is the forementioned "Adams Memorial" which was create by Saint-Gaudens as memorial/grave site for Marian "Clover" Hooper Adams, wife of the writer Henry Adams. Adams was a American socialite who took her own life in 1885. It is sometimes mistakenly referred to a Grief Memorial. Henry Adams is also buried here.

I always have to pause and admire this gravestone which sits on top of a hill. Who says cemeteries have no life in them...

The cemetery is 86 acres and its web address is: http://www.rockcreekparish.org/