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Central Burying Ground

Central Burying Ground

Central Burying Ground
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Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area

Address
Neighborhood: Downtown
The largest area of the city, Downtown is rich with historical and iconic sites in Boston. Stroll through one of Boston’s most famous green spaces, the Boston Public Gardens, check out and make way for duckling statues, picnic under a beautiful tree overlooking the pond, and walk over the iconic footbridge where, during summer time, you will catch a swan boat toting children and eager tourists through the pond. Have your camera ready to capture its peaceful beauty in the middle of a bustling city. Continue on through the Gardens and take in some open green space at the Boston Common, where you can spend time throwing a frisbee, sitting on a park bench, or, in the winter time, skating on the frog pond. Head north from the end of the Common to see the golden dome of the State House, and travel through government center to Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall, both a historic and popular destination worth a quick visit for a first time to Boston. Head to Long Wharf to visit the Aquarium, or catch a boat to Charlestown or even Cape Cod.
How to get there
  • Boylston • 2 min walk
  • Chinatown • 4 min walk
Reach out directly

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

4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles11 reviews
Excellent
2
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8
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Grover R
Pensacola, FL22,266 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2024 • Couples
There are 5 colonial Burying Grounds in Boston, and this is the last one created in the colonial era by carving out a piece of the Common. I enjoy visiting these just because of the history in each. However, if you had to miss one this would probably be it. You can easily see it from a walk in the Common. It is interesting to know that most of those either killed or died of wounds from the Battle of Bunker Hill are buried here. So too is Gilbert Stuart the famous American portrait painter known for his painting of George Washington. While there are many graves here with intricate slate tombstones, there are not nearly the notable names found in other city burying grounds.
Written September 15, 2024
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.

Taylor B
Chicago, IL8,478 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2017 • Couples
The Central Burying Ground is the fourth oldest cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts, and probably the least recognized. Located on Boylston Street between Tremont Street and Charles Street on the Boston Common, it was established in 1756 to alleviate overcrowding at Granary Burying Ground, King's Chapel and Copp's Hill. A one-time pasture, it was considered the least desirable burial ground by Bostonians because it was the farthest from the market center of the town. Notable burials include the artist Gilbert Stuart, who painted the famous portraits of George Washington and Martha Washington, composer William Billings, American Revolutionary War and Boston Tea Party hero Samuel Sprague and his son, poet Charles Sprague, Caleb Davis, Stephen Higginson and John Baptiste Julien. The cemetery also contains the remains of American patriots from the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Boston Tea Party and British soldiers who died in the American Revolution. Visitors are curious about The Dell, a large free-standing structure along the west edge of the burial ground that houses the remains of the graves disturbed by street construction. Additionally, a large grave in the northwest part of the site contains human remains unearthed during subway construction in 1895.
Written September 12, 2017
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.

on_the_go_98765
Tucson20,571 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2019
To alleviate overcrowding, the Central Burial Ground was established in 1756. Although it holds the remains of about 5,000 people; the great majority of those people were French Roman Catholics, other foreigners, and also British soldiers who either died of disease during their occupation of Boston (1775-1776), or died of wounds received at Bunker Hill.

And, this burial ground was too far from the market-heart of the city thus making it even less desirable. This cemetery is located in the Boston Common. The last burial took place in 1856. It struck us as unkempt and somewhat neglected. It is not on the Freedom Trail nor was it on our radar for historic must-see sights.
Written October 10, 2019
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.

Mark D
Chicago, IL598 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2019 • Solo
When I found I was staying nearby on Boylston I knew I’d make time to get to Central Burying Ground in the big Boston Common park. This is a historic old cemetery with grave dating back to the mid 1700’s. I like these old tombstones; the art and the epitaphs are very different than today. If you find yourself in the neighborhood go explore this place. The main gate is on Boylston.
Written August 29, 2019
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.

Louis F
Altus, OK1,231 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023
Really cool cemetery with a lot of history. A lot of gravestones are rubbed down and illegible now but there are a few legible ones still.
Written May 5, 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.

bLiselotte
Palatine, IL598 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2019 • Solo
This burial Ground is on the Grounds of the Boston Common. It has a unique feature of a run of vaults on one side. It has really old headstones and a lazy path throughout. Something different to walk through while on the Commons.
Written July 31, 2019
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.

LostInTime
Pittsburgh, PA24,337 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2018 • Business
I like history a lot and these old cemeteries in Boston are very nice. This one is one of he oldest and is very cool to walk through. It’s not super big so it doesn’t take a long time.
Written October 17, 2018
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.
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Central Burying Ground - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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