A graveyard may seem like an odd place for an afternoon stroll, but there’s actually a rich history of urban cemeteries serving as parks in the United States. Many of the cemeteries built in the early 19th century were designed as green spaces that were to act both as burial grounds for the deceased and areas of recreation for the living. If you’ve ever walked through a cemetery from this era, you likely have noticed how beautiful they are, and that’s by design. Some of the oldest cemeteries in Connecticut were meant to be be resting places for the dead and places for family members to gather for picnics and afternoons spent in nature. One of the state’s most beautiful historic cemeteries is tucked away right on the Yale campus in New Haven, CT: Grove Street Cemetery.

Grove Street Cemetery was first organized in 1796 and was then called the New Haven Burying Ground. It was the first private nonprofit cemetery in the world and was also among the first graveyards to be designed as a "city of the dead."
Goldenpie Hk/Google Reviews
The terminology sounds strange, but it refers to the fact that there are designated, named walkways within the graves.
Jielin Yin/Google Reviews
This is also the first cemetery in the country to have permanent family plots. It's no wonder that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Grove Street Cemetery
Quite a few famous names are interred here, including several Yale University presidents and Eli Whitney, the inventor of the cotton gin.
Beth Frank/Google Reviews

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Its history and natural beauty make this a wonderful place for an afternoon walk.
Jielin Yin/Google Reviews
The cemetery is open for public visitors any time the gates are open, which is typically daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
dusty/Google Reviews
Guided tours of the grounds can be scheduled, but you're also free to just walk through and enjoy the sights on your own.
Paul Bogush/Google Reviews
This is such a quiet place for reflection right in the middle of a bustling college campus.
Christof Verboven/Google Reviews

For more information about Grove Street Cemetery in New Haven, CT, check out the Grove Street Cemetery website. New Haven is also home to the iconic Blake Hotel.

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Grove St Cemetery, 227 Grove St, New Haven, CT 06511, USA