Green Mount Cemetery — Attraction in Baltimore

I can't speak to if Green Mount has a Crematorium (a place where cremation happen) or not. So for the purpose of this review i am sticking to the cemetery. And in that aspect i am not talking about the services offered, to a point.

Green Mount (or sometimes Greenmount) represents probably the most historic and well-known of the cemeteries in Baltimore. However if you're a fan of history, statuary and monuments, or just a fan of cemeteries in general, i highly recommend you check it out.

One of the first things you might notice, after passing through the fortress like gates (of which one of the turrets, the one on the right as you enter, contains the offices where you can sign in, ask some question, drop off genealogy paperwork, and get a map), and for now discounting the gravesites is how hilly this cemetery is for such a small piece of ground. Parts of the Cemetery easily rise about the walls of it. This gives you an idea of what the surrounding area was like when the cemetery was founded in what was then the outskirts of the city (as opposed to it's almost central location now). The surrounding neighborhoods have been smoothed out as they were developed. So i would recommend good sneakers if you're traversing the cemetery on foot.

As for statuary and monuments, in my opinion, Green Mount represents some of the best representation of American Memorialization of the Dead from the mid 1800's on to today. And unlike many modern cemeteries, even-though for all practical purposes it's full, the burials that still take place are not just restricted to a memorial plaque sat in the ground. But it is impressive to see the various different ways that families took to marking the plots of their deceased.

As for history, more so then probably any other cemetery outside Westminster Burial Grounds for Baltimore. The most notable is John Wilkes Booth (not related) who is "supposedly" interred in family plot in an "unmarked" grave. Some notable others interred in the cemetery include, Johns Hopkins, Elizabeth "Betsy" Patterson-Bonaparte, Walter Lord, Allan Dulles, William Henry Rinehart, Enoch Pratt, and Sidney Lanier. Also don't be suppressed if you recognize Family names from the names of communities, streets, and points of interest around town.

Do note that the cemetery closes earlier them most, around three i believe. And i don't believe it is open on Sundays (i could be wrong). They do offer tours. Personally i have yet to take one, but if you contact them they should give you information.

With that said some advice about the neighborhood. While the cemetery is relatively safe (i've never had any issues) the surrounding neighborhood is less so. Over the years this has been one of the rougher neighborhoods in the city. While it has improved over the last couple of years, wandering around or exploring the adjacent neighborhood would not be recommended. Particularly if your alone, in a small group, or not familiar with the area. Their isn't much to see either and facilities...

Step into the enchanting realm of Green Mount Cemetery in Baltimore, and you'll be transported through time and history. The air is filled with an aura of mystique, as if the stories of the past linger among the ornate tombstones and towering trees. As you stroll along the pathways, one shrine stands out—a tribute to Thomas Wildey, the visionary behind American Odd Fellowship.

Wildey's own life story, marked by resilience and empathy, mirrors the guiding principles of the Odd Fellows. Born an orphan in London, his childhood experiences ignited the commitment to "Educate the Orphan," a pledge that later found its place within the heart of the order. Initiated at 21, Wildey's zeal and integrity propelled him through the ranks, and he became a guiding light for his fellow Odd Fellows.

The journey of Thomas Wildey to America in 1817 echoes a time of challenge and upheaval, reflected in Baltimore's struggles with epidemics and unemployment. Yet, his determination to find companionship amidst adversity led him to seek fellow Odd Fellows, proving that the bonds of fraternity transcended borders and circumstances.

Wildey's legacy as Grand Sire and his pivotal role in transforming the order into the Independent Order of Odd Fellows speak of his enduring dedication. The order's evolution, including its acceptance of both genders, reflects a commitment to progress and inclusivity.

While history can be both glorious and painful, Green Mount Cemetery provides a space to reflect on the complexities of human endeavors. The rise of the Odd Fellows during the "Golden Age of Fraternalism" showcased their widespread influence, an influence that also reminds me of their widespread mistreatment of the most vulnerable members of society.

As you stand before Wildey's monument, surrounded by the echoes of the past, it's a poignant reminder that history is a tapestry woven with both noble aspirations and moral imperfections. Green Mount Cemetery invites you to explore not only the stories etched in stone but also the nuanced layers of the human journey, where every step unearths a deeper understanding of our...

In the first four months of the pandemic, I took nearly 200 photos while walking through Green Mount Cemetery, where sun-dappled paths meander through curving, sloping rows of marble headstones—crosses and cherubs aplenty. I have my favorites: the Snow White-like coffin carved with flowers that sits under glass, a life-sized marble tree trunk with ivy tendrils, the half-sunken graves of John Wilkes Booth and his conspirators topped with pennies left by visitors.

Green space is a precious commodity in any city, but with workplaces and businesses shuttered, it was essential. I needed to leave my house—to stretch my eyes beyond my block, hemmed in by other houses, and the confines of my computer screen. I tracked the seasons through its boughs: from magnolias and dogwoods to lindens and yellowing gingkoes to the ever-present cedars. Whether sunny or gray, spring or winter, the act of walking here, guided by the act of looking, forms the perfect backdrop for contemplation.

Green Mount Cemetery is not a public park, but it started out that way, when cemeteries functioned as some of America’s first public green spaces. Camera phone in hand, it gets me thinking about the kinds of spaces that don’t yet exist within these screens where I capture scene after scene of hills and headstones. I dream of new ways of looking that might transform this place and allow for better ways...