Hope Cemetery
Hope Cemetery
4.5
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
44 within 3 miles
Attractions
46 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
250 reviews
Excellent
176
Very good
61
Average
9
Poor
2
Terrible
2
Im_traveling_solo
Chicopee, MA362 contributions
Sep 2022
While some may think visiting a cemetery is an odd thing to do, there are some like Mount Auburn in Cambridge MA and Hope Cemetery that are more like outdoor art exhibits.
Set up on a hill overlooking a quiet section of Rte 7 the cemetery is very easy to find. The stones are amazing, both the hand cut granite and some of the more modern computer designed stone. I was surprised at how many people were there to see the stones. I came from western Massachusetts specifically to see them and there were people from New York as well. There was a local gentleman driving around and stopping to give visitors some back stories on the people buried there, the stones and the craftsman. Among those stories was that the cemetery is on the site of the old poor house and that it is town owned and with the exception of 9 stones, all stones are required to be made of granite. He said that the airplane monument was the most expensive stone there as it was hand carved at $600 an hour.
I have traveled to northern Vermont for more than 60 years but had never been to Barre before. I recommend that rather than passing by, you take a side trip off exit 7 and spend a few hours wandering Hope Cemetery and the world's longest zipper - granite of course - on Main St.
Set up on a hill overlooking a quiet section of Rte 7 the cemetery is very easy to find. The stones are amazing, both the hand cut granite and some of the more modern computer designed stone. I was surprised at how many people were there to see the stones. I came from western Massachusetts specifically to see them and there were people from New York as well. There was a local gentleman driving around and stopping to give visitors some back stories on the people buried there, the stones and the craftsman. Among those stories was that the cemetery is on the site of the old poor house and that it is town owned and with the exception of 9 stones, all stones are required to be made of granite. He said that the airplane monument was the most expensive stone there as it was hand carved at $600 an hour.
I have traveled to northern Vermont for more than 60 years but had never been to Barre before. I recommend that rather than passing by, you take a side trip off exit 7 and spend a few hours wandering Hope Cemetery and the world's longest zipper - granite of course - on Main St.
Written September 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Teammilitello
Des Moines, IA2,792 contributions
Aug 2021 • Family
We loved driving though this cemetery after our tour of Rock of Ages. The history we were told beforehand helped just understand what we set seeing. Mostly carved by Italians, 3-D flowers, busts carved by hand,… This cemetery is well-maintained & classy.
Written August 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joanne S
Fort Mill, SC407 contributions
Sep 2021
It is well worth at least a drive through, if not a good wander around, this cemetery. The granite monuments are works of art, and so unusual for cemetery monuments. It is fun to think about why people chose those monuments as memorials for their loved ones...
Written September 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joe and Diane
73 contributions
Jul 2022
We spent just 45 minutes here, could have spent twice that much time. We are so thankful to the woman staffing the Montpelier Visitors Center (on Independence Day!) who recommended we visit. She also gave us a brochure describing more than 30 of the most interesting monuments, which was very helpful and definitely gave us an incentive to visit.
The monuments are stunning works of art. The cemetery was created in the late 1800s to showcase the skills of the area’s stone carvers, and it sure does that. Green rolling hills with gleaming white marble monuments.
It felt a bit weird to be taking photos in a cemetery, but we couldn’t help it.
The monuments are stunning works of art. The cemetery was created in the late 1800s to showcase the skills of the area’s stone carvers, and it sure does that. Green rolling hills with gleaming white marble monuments.
It felt a bit weird to be taking photos in a cemetery, but we couldn’t help it.
Written July 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NHjo
Saco, ME14,513 contributions
Oct 2022
There are so many fascinating tombstones here. It's known as 'the museum of granite sculptures', carved mostly by Italian stone cutters who were later buried here. The photos I've attached are some of my favorite stones and mausoleums.
Written October 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rashae Williams
Yardley, PA42 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
We came here to walk around with our 8 month old, we heard about it from family who had previously visited. Well worth the time to get there (we were staying in Stowe, so a little out of the way). Beautiful gravestones, and we googled the history of the place while we walked, it was fascinating to learn about and we honestly could have spent hours just walking and looking at the carvings and learning.
Written October 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MJM
42 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
This is a simple drive and look at activity that doesn’t take a lot of time but is full of interesting stones to see. They are many highlights spread out over several area of the cemetery. I loved the attention to detail and life like figures.
Written October 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MongoSchwartz
Traverse City, MI667 contributions
Jun 2022
With the history of granite carving in Barre, it's not surprising that the cemetery should boast some stunning headstones. Moreover, it's a huge plot of land, so if you're interested in this sort of thing, make sure you have plenty of time to do it.
The primary reason for the five stars is because it's a relatively "unusual" destination. Indeed, it seems odd to say "you have to see the cemetery!" but in this case, you should.
The primary reason for the five stars is because it's a relatively "unusual" destination. Indeed, it seems odd to say "you have to see the cemetery!" but in this case, you should.
Written July 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robin M
Brookville, PA791 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
After touring the Rock of Ages Granite Quarry, we drove by Hope Cemetery and decided to stop. The headstones and monuments are unique. Some are works of art. This is unlike any cemetery that I've been through.
When we visited, there wasn't a tour going on. We just wandered around looking at the monuments. I would consider stopping again if there was a tour. I believe the stories would be very interesting.
When we visited, there wasn't a tour going on. We just wandered around looking at the monuments. I would consider stopping again if there was a tour. I believe the stories would be very interesting.
Written November 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sandie B
Westwood, MA27 contributions
May 2015 • Family
This cemetery is very interesting in that it has unique figures as grave stones. For instance there is a car, Husband and Wife in bed, a chair and many others all out of granite. VERY interesting!!
Written May 19, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yes, I'm in agreement with the others and don't miss it! Beautiful!
Written March 22, 2019
okolee
Chicopee, Massachusetts
Is it permissable for a bus of tourists to drive thru the Hope Cemetery?
Written June 20, 2017
No. The roads are too narrow and it also would be disruptive to mourners who visit the cemetery. Cars may drive through or you can walk.
Written June 20, 2017
okolee
Chicopee, Massachusetts
Do I need a permit for a bus of tourists to go thru Hope Cemetery and see the most unusual headstones? Is there a tour guide available? If so, how long can we expect to spend with the tour guide? Charge?
Written June 20, 2017
No, you do not need a permit. When you get to Hope Cemetery, pull into driveway and pull to the right and park. There are no quides that I know of. If you go on line -- Vermont - com - hope-cemetery it shows some of the granite head stones that you will see there. When you go, you can spend up to an hour admiring the head stones and the workmanship that was done.
Written June 23, 2017
Showing results 1-4 of 4
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing