Buried in Philly: Philadelphia's Historic Graveyards, cemeteries & Other Burial Places

Philadelphia established approximately 150 burial places while it was part of a British colony and many more were opened in the city after the U.S. gained independence. The story of these final resting places is fascinating and well worth telling. This video references more than 20 historic burial grounds, graveyards and cemeteries and illustrates monuments, plain and elaborate, that mark the graves of famous people buried in the city. Included are early colonial burial grounds, magnificent 'garden cemeteries, and a couple of abandoned cemeteries.
Quality: The video is presented in 4K (but your quality may vary depending on your internet reception).
Resources: In addition to numerous web-sites, historical information was gathered from numerous resources, the most helpful include:
- Philadelphia Graveyards and Cemeteries by Thomas H. Keels;
- Keystone Tombstones by Joe Farrell and Joe Farley;
- Philadelphia's Washington Square - Bill Double;
- Philadelphia Area Cemeteries - Allan M. Heller;
- Laurel Hill Cemetery - Carol Yaster and Rachel Wolgemut;
- Independence: A Guide to Historic Philadelphia - George W. Boudreau;
- A Philadelphia Story by Lori Litchman;
- Lives of the Silent Stones in Christ Church Burial Ground b- Jean K. Wolf.
Music: List of music used in the video will follow.

[@iamshotty]

Beautifully filmed, edited and narrated. I especially enjoyed your Nunhead Cemetery 'Resurrected' video too. I like the way you don't put loud, distracting and repetitive music in your videos. Very professional and to the point. Subscribed. And can't wait to see the rest of your work. Thank you so much xx Teresa 🇦🇺♥

[@yvngvudu]

I used to live in Collingdale when i was younger and would run through Eden Cemetery to visit my friends.

[@mrbutch308]

Excellent tour of Philly's historic cemeteries. I would have included a few other "fun facts" about these cemeteries showcased here. For example, near the front gate of Laurel Hill Cemetery is perhaps the only grave and monument to a fictional movie character - Adrian, Rocky Balboa's great love from the Rocky movies. Buried in The Woodlands is the noted Philadelphia artist Thomas Eakins, and just a few feet away from him is the Mr. Campbell of Campbell's Soup. Mount Moriah once was the resting place of Elizabeth Griscom (aka Betsy Ross) but she was interred next to the "Betsy Ross House" in the Old City of Philadelphia - although some doubt if they dug up the right bones of that lady. Thank you for posting this from a proud Philadelphian.

[@DrDavidOwens]

Thank you for your comment. I always have too much information to be able to include it all. By the way, Laurel Hill has a second fictional headstone: for Rocky Balboa himself. Apparently, only a fake stone headstone was used when showing Balboa grave in the movie but later the cemetery had a stone headstone made and it can be seen in the graveyard. Regards, Davd

[@ericcantor5153]

Well done David! Thoroughly enjoyed and learned much from this documentary. Philadelphia is fortunate to have a scholar such as you documenting our past.

[@DrDavidOwens]

Thank you so much for your nice complement. Pleased you enjoyed the video. You might also enjoy: 'The Life and Death of London's Magnificent Seven Cemeteries'. Some wonderful artwork in these burial grounds.

[@robertjones8974]

What a lovely film! Thank you!

[@queengkellymarie2556]

Excellent production! Wow, so much information and such beautiful images✨

[@DrDavidOwens]

Thank you for your kind comments. David

[@Stussmeister]

A very nice and interesting video. All four of my grandparents lived in Philly at some point, and I know that at least three of my great-grandparents are buried there. My maternal grandmother's parents, for example, are interred in the Mount Peace Cemetery, and my maternal grandfather's mother is buried in Northwood Cemetery.

[@DrDavidOwens]

Thank you for your comment and compliment.

[@Stussmeister]

@@DrDavidOwens You're quite welcome :).

[@atthehousepublishing-glora5375]

Very informative!

[@StewsConcertMemories]

This is great! Loved it. Thank you

[@DrDavidOwens]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@eengeeoo]

Excellent tour. Thank you.

[@yvonneplant9434]

All of the squares are still there. One was made into a circle but there is talk of squaring it again.

[@wayneschmidt9620]

I find your work excellent and interesting. Thank you

[@DrDavidOwens]

Thank you for your kind comments.

[@bobsdaughter2594]

My Dad is buried at Ivy Hill. Such a beautiful and well maintained cemetery. Beautiful video!!

[@DrDavidOwens]

Pleased you liked the video. It was fun making it.

[@tomtransport]

Wonderful work, my mother 1956, grandmother 1947, grandfather 1928 and a few Uncles 1930s/50's or so, were/are all buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery in/during the years I posted. The family plot is about 30 or so yards west of Betsy Ross burial site. They say they moved Betsy in 1976 to her old home on Arch Street but I disagree. Long story I won't go into here. I had Federal Jury duty in Philadelphia some years ago. They put me up at a hotel near the courthouse. After having breakfast I decided to walk to the courthouse a few blocks away. I was surprised that I slept at one corner of the same city block that Benjamin Franklin is buried on as I walked past his and his wife's graves.☠☠💀💀

[@DrDavidOwens]

Thank you for tour compliment and comment.

[@KWC33]

I attended Stephen Decatur grade school and Rush middle school. It was on his family lands and grew up in that neighborhood. I did not know the history until I was an adult and my mothers family goes back to Quaker landowners who were in the same area as the rush family the bacon as well as penn himself. it gives me a proud connection to my Philadelphia bucks county roots.

[@DrDavidOwens]

Thank you for your comment. David

[@ms.pittman1180]

St James the Less is in North Philadelphia. I live right around the corner from it for the past 56 years.

[@anthonyminimum]

5:48 Benjamin Franklin is one of the most famous people in America, even if you’re not a fan of history, at some point you’ve learned about him and look up to him as an inspirational person

[@arnhay]

Shout out to George and Alice Maris my great grandparents x8

[@inquizative44]

Saint Mother Katherine Drexel, founder of the order of nuns, "Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament." Used her inheritance to build Catholic schools for Blacks and Indians... St. Ignatius Elementary was the school I attended and gave me the best elementary education which sustains me to this day. Black History was vigorously taught from 1st to 8th. Not just about slavery but the achievements of Black American inventors, poets, doctors, politicians, abolitionists, scientists, lawyers, business men and women etc..

[@jasminespencer3992]

What a wonderful video I love everything about it but I do find the music a bit distracting from your wonderful narration. And it’s funny when you’re going through the Jewish cemetery, as a Jewish kid growing up in Philadelphia I remember all those names being highlighted in Sunday school as famous historical Jews

[@DrDavidOwens]

Pleased you enjoyed the video. Sorry to hear you found the music was distracting; I thought I had kept it sufficiently low to just be in the background.