Cemetery

Land designated by a community, congregation, organization or family for the interment, entombment and memorialization of the dead. Beginning in the early 1830s, traditional churchyard and family burial grounds were replaced by large landscaped cemeteries designed to meet the needs of a growing population. Newly developed cemeteries were located on the perimeter of urban areas, providing suitable spaces for visitation, contemplation and the erection of related monuments or mausolea. For over 175 years, landscaped cemeteries have evolved to accommodate cultural trends in memorialization. Cemeteries are used by the public as parks, arboretums, and outdoor museums while fulfilling their traditional purpose of serving as a burial ground for the departed.