Special Tour: Laurel Hill Cemetery 

Designing for the Dead: Art and Architecture at Laurel Hill

The birth of the rural or garden cemetery, with its spacious lots and bucolic landscapes, created a unique marketing opportunity for 19th century designers. Noted architects like John Notman, William Strickland, Frank Furness, and John J. McArthur, competed fiercely for the chance to design for the dead. Wealthy Philadelphians strolling through Laurel Hill would admire these monuments and seek out their designers, often forging cradle-to-grave relationships. On the “Designing for the Dead” walking tour of Laurel Hill Cemetery, join tour guide and writer, Thomas H. Keels, on a walk to see monuments created by these architects, as well as artists such as Alexander Milne Calder, his son Alexander Stirling Calder, and Harriet Frishmuth. We’ll also see the final resting places of John Notman, Frank Furness, and Thomas U. Walter, among others. Finally, we’ll review changing tastes in grave markers, from the classical obelisks and urns of the Federal period, to the decorated crosses of the Gothic Revival, to the massive mausoleums of the Gilded Age.

Thomas H. Keels is a lecturer, writer, and commentator specializing in Philadelphia history and architecture. He is the author or co-author of seven published books, including Philadelphia Graveyards and Cemeteries; Wicked Philadelphia: Sin in the City of Brotherly Love; and Forgotten Philadelphia: Lost Architecture of the Quaker City. Tom's latest book, Sesqui!  Greed, Graft, and The Forgotten World's Fair of 1926, was published in 2017. 

A confirmed taphophile (Greek for “lover of graves”), Tom has been a tour guide at Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia's premier Victorian necropolis, for over 25 years. Recently, Tom was featured on the PBS program World’s Greatest Cemeteries, showing host Roberto Mighty the high points of Laurel Hill Cemetery. 

Meet at the Gatehouse at Laurel Hill East's main entrance, located at 3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19132

**Know before you go

- Parking is available in any of the parking lot areas directly across from the main entrance (you will not be ticketed or towed). Please do not park in front of the construction entrance at the corner of Ridge Ave. and Clearfield St. Street parking is available in the neighborhood on Indiana Ave., N. 35th St., W. Clearfield St., N. Shedwick St., and/or N. 34th St. You may also park inside the cemetery, on any road that is big enough for you to pull your car over far enough for another car to pass. Additional directions and parking information are linked here.

- Dress comfortably and warmly for the duration of your tour and wear sturdy walking shoes. We have umbrellas in the office you can borrow in the event of rain. 

- Water bottle. The Gift Shop will be open, and has water and hand warmers.

- This tour will go off paved roads and into grassy-uneven terrain. There will be a lot of walking and some inclines.

Preservation Alliance walking tours utilize an audio system that transmits from a headset worn by the guide to earpieces worn by tour attendees. The equipment is thoroughly sanitized before and after each use. Tour attendees can also plug in their personal headsets or earbuds that use a standard headphone jack (Not compatible with Bluetooth or Apple earphones).

Space is limited. Advance registration required.

A portion of this tour's proceeds will be shared with Friends of Laurel Hill

General Admission: $30

PAGP Members: $25

Email us at tours@preservationalliance.com for any questions or join the waitlist for a sold out tour!