Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Millionaire's Row


The stunning entrance to the Laurel Hill Cemetery, my outing for a Sunday afternoon with the Lad. Your thinking, shouldn't I have visited during the Halloween holiday? I'm a bird of a different feather, and enjoy a good outing in a interesting cemetery anytime. Our original outing was to go see the Moore Mansion, but it was booked for a wedding. So I suggested going to see some millionaires, mind ya, dead ones. Just my luck. So it was off to Millionaire 's Row. It’s not exactly something you’d associate with a cemetery. But then again, neither are Atlantic City and Tacony. At least, you wouldn’t just by looking at some of the biggest mausoleums on Millionaire’s Row in Laurel Hill Cemetery, which is the nations largest historic cemetery and is home to the mausoleum of the Disston family, among other famous elite families of Victorian Philadelphia. The cemetery features a special section, nicknamed Millionaire’s Row, for all of the most wealthy residents that it holds. It’s characterized by a row of mausoleums that lead down a curved road. Strolling through it, the history seems quite distant and sometimes hard to relate to. That is, until one tries. The cemetery also offers spectacular views of Philadelphia, which is further down the river. And some of the last foliage was still lingering.......


Mausoleums, and some tombstones fascinate me, I can't lie. I like to go up to them and peer inside. One of these days, I worry that a spirit resident will look back at me through the door, scare the mothballs out of me, and then I'll need my OWN tomb. But on I go, fearles,s peeping in the houses of the dead. Plus the architecture of these buildings are so stunning and detailed to see, each so different from the next.


Mausoleums, by definition, are monuments erected as buildings, usually free-standing, that house a deceased remains. Many times, they hold an entire family's remains, with niches for coffins or urns. The more costly ones may include stained glass windows, which here were aplenty And many of them mimic the fashionable architectural styles of their times, for example, the Egyptian Revival which was popular in the early 20th century.


As I mentioned above, most of the mausoleums have stained glass windows, and  wrought iron doors, which are so beautiful, and so many to see. I may have to return to do a post just on them. I also think winter could be a neat time to see Laurel Hill, strolling through the paths with hot mulled cider, but no promises, as I hate the bitter cold! And what was with the fog in only this part of the place in the above picture? Was I getting a visit from the ghost of Christmas past? Or had I had to many sidecars?

20 comments:

  1. You know your graveyard info, my man.

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  2. I have my money on to many sidecars!

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  3. Astonishing little buildings. Most interesting cemetery I've been in is the one by the French Quarter in New Orleans.

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  4. Anonymous11/28/2012

    Dead ones, hmm maybe but I think the line in that Rolling Stones song, Start me Up was about you

    "You'll make a dead man rise!"

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  5. I am not a morbid person by any stretch, but I love cemeteries, and especially ones that have so many mausoleums.
    I love the art and architecture of those buildings.

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  6. Each time I visit a new city, a trip to the local cemeteries is high on my list.

    Can I be your ghoulfriend?

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    1. I like the way your twisted mind works.

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  7. Wow! Very cool. All the ones near me-full of head stones only.

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    1. Hazard, where are my manners? Welcome and thanks for commenting! Stoop by often and beware of Cali-Boi!

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  8. What a great post! I have never seen such a ornate cemetery or found them of intrest. But I do think I could tour this place.

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  9. Love the entrance to that place. Maybe ine day I'll even make it pass it. It really is something to see.

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  10. I love cemeteries too! This is a great post. I also have one of those wierd fetishs of night games in a cemtery if you catch what I'm stepping in.

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    1. I wondered what the sarcophagus's were used for!

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  11. Cemteries are a favorite of mine too ~ so fresh, quiet, and your mind is usually wide awake with wonder!

    Great design marvels!

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  12. Wow...I want to go there just for the pictures! You have to take me. I would love to do close ups of certain elements.

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  13. This is amazing! I don;t think I ever saw such a elegant cemetery.I can see why you like to go there.

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  14. There's something so magical about walking around in the still-dewy, early morning when no one else is up. And in a cemetery like this. rarely experience this magic, as I can hardly drag myself out of bed when I have to! What cool sculpture and the detailed buildings . . . I'd love Laurel Hill

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  15. What a simply beautiful resting place. The tird picture reminds me of a fairytale building. And speaking of sarcophagus, the one in the last picture was apretty penny I'm sure.

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  16. Thanls everyone for your comments! The place really is something to see and really should be seen in person, it'a quite amazing.

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Go ahead darling, tell me something fabulous!