Mount Auburn Cemetery

Mount Auburn Cemetery is one of my favorite places because it is unlike any other cemetery. Instead of being flat and boring, its 175 acres in Cambridge and Watertown has hills, ponds, trees from all over the world, flower gardens, an Italian tower that can be climbed with the best view of the Boston skyline, a Gothic church with a rose window and female sphinx at the end of the driveway, the Mary Baker Eddy Memorial that is extremely photographic on the edge of a pond surrounded by some of the tallest trees, and the most interesting gravestones. It was founded in 1831 and is considered a national historic landmark. Unlike most graveyard visitors who like old gravestones, I like ones that are symbolic of something spiritual or tell a story. If you go, pick up one of the many pamphlets at the Visitor Center that show a map of the streets and lanes (many named after trees), the types of trees, its history, and various rare bird sightings.  This is not a place for riding bikes or picnicking but for visiting grave sites, walking quietly and meditating.

Photos in order are: (1) Mary Baker Memorial and Halcyon Pond in Springtime; (2) Bird Photographer at Willow Pond;  (3) Story Chapel at Entrance; (4) Washington Tower with Various Gravestones in Front.