How to Tour Mt. Auburn Cemetery Cambridge MA

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By Cherst1031
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First Stop Vistor's Center

This historic cemetery is well worth visiting during the nice weather.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Small amount of money for a map
Comfortable Shoes
Camera (optional)
Binoculars (optional)

Step 1

Bigelow Chapel

When you reach the Egyptian Revival style gates, you will go through and the Visitor's Center is on the left, if you are driving you will see signs to go right and park in that direction. Park where you can, near the Bigelow Chapel is a nice place to end up and it's a short walk down to the Visitor's Center. After you park, go to the Visitor's Center in Story Chapel to read some of the displays and learn the history and purchase a map for fifty cents - the map is a necessity if you don't want to walk around in a maze of little streets for hours lost.
Step 2

Hygieia Statue at Hunt Memorial

There are dashed green lines painted on the streets, with similar lines on the map, to follow. This is a nice route, and it will take you past some interesting works of art, such as the Statue of Hygieia at the monument of Dr. Harriot Kezia Hunt, an early female physician. The statue is badly deteriorated from the severe New England weather, and you can read a little about the restoration/preservation project on the signs here.
Step 3

Washington Tower

Follow the green dashes up to the Washington Tower. You will see the tower from the road, but follow up and around to get to the entrance. The tower was designed by Dr. Bigelow, who also designed Bigelow Chapel. The tower is named after the first US president. It has an almost medieval feel to it, as you enter, there is a stone spiral staircase to take you to the top.
Step 4

Bigelow Chapel from top of Tower

There is a balcony about three quarters of the way up, which is a nice place to stop and catch your breath. However, the view is remarkably better from the very top, so keep on chugging up those stairs to the top. You can see Bigelow Chapel and be amazed that your car is THAT far way? And you get to walk back to it. There are also great views of Boston and the rolling hills to the north.
Step 5

Scots' Charitable Society Lot Fence

After the chapel, continue along toward Bigelow Chapel. The map will show you where the most interesting monuments are. One is the Scots' Charitable Society Lot Fence. This lot was for the interment of the poor of Scottish descent that the charitable society was set up to help. Interesting iron work to view.
Step 6

Civil War Memorial

There are many smaller, but very interestingly carved monuments to view, there are also many beautiful plantings and this cemetery is known to be a great place for bird sitings. When you get back to the lovely Bigelow Chapel, you can't miss the huge sphinx monument for Civil War soldiers. It is very moving to read the engraving on it.
Step 7

Mary Baker Eddy's tomb

There is one very large, incredible monument that is not on the green dashed trail that is worth seeing. It is the monument of Mary Baker Eddy, founder of the Church of Christ, Scientist. There is a huge white stone structure next to a pretty pond. However, if you have heard the legend that she was buried with a phone in her casket so she could call "from the other side", the truth is that it's just another urban legend, according to Snopes' (see Resources). It's a fun story, though.