Forest Hills Cemetery

My mother lives next to thise Cemetery. It is peaceful when walking around, relax or just for meditation. In autum is so colorful. Most likely like a garden. Even the nature sound makes you relax.

What a beautiful cemetery!
Enter through the most beautiful set of archways (the main entrance), veer to the right for a (suggested donation of $ 1) map, and start the most peaceful walk one could only dream about within city limits.
To start, the map is extremely informative. There’s a description of the history of the cemetery, pictures, as well as 56 points of interest (famous and/​or interesting graves and monuments) on the well devised map! I’ve only been here a couple of times and have only scratched the surface of what is available to discover!
If finding the points of interest isn’t your thing, just take in the sights (juxtaposition of the ancient grave with well maintained shrubbery), smells of the fresh pine, and sounds of the birds in the trees. Just spending 20 minutes here will do wonders for your city-​slicker soul.
I actually prefer this cemetery to its larger and less intimate cousin — the Mt. Auburn cemetery. In comparison, Forest Hills seems less overwhelming while still delivering all the key features (a pond, tall trees, statues, grass, etc — all things suggestive of deep introspective thought).
So go in for a nice afternoon, and leave feeling that you can understand the meaning of serenity.

Exquisitely maintained grounds, beautiful stained glass and statuary, plucky wild turkeys strutting about.

One of my favorite places in Boston! Worth living in JP. The landscape, beautiful sculptures and art installations are superb. It’s open to the public. Perfect for a jog, bike ride and especially a dog walk. Easy to get lost, but worth it!

Gorgeous cemetery that goes on and on. Easily could wander for a couple of peaceful hours.

This is truly a beautiful cemetery and a really peaceful and beautiful garden at the same time. There is something charming and lovely about a place that has so much history and so many generations buried here. I know it’s a little macabre to review a cemetery, but my grandmother is actually buried here but I’ve come here to not only visit her grave from time to time but to explore the breath taking grounds as well.
From the historical graves to beautifully crafted tombstones from the 18^th century and mausoleums that time forgot, you definitely find something new to look at every time you walk though here. It is beautifully kept. I’ve never actually seen anyone in the office all the times I’ve visited– almost like there is an invisible staff that keeps everything so immaculately clean! Although once, I went in the main building to use the restroom close to the time they were closing and no one was in there but I swear I felt a presence in there with me. LOL. It has spooked me a little and I have not used the bathroom there again… but the main building is gorgeous and kind of gothic looking with huge iron gates. It’s almost always remote with a slight breeze in the air. You can drive though the whole cemetery and there is another section across the street as well, or you can walk through and it is pet friendly which is nice.
I’ve attended the Lantern festival for the first time last year and it’s really a wonderful community event and gorgeous to see all the lanterns floating in the pond at night.
There are also modern art pieces placed all around the grounds and just today while exploring, I stumbled upon a huge and gorgeous angel looking over a hill.
It is really peaceful and just gorgeous here. Great place to go and just think and marvel at all the beautiful structures and appreciate the art that went into some of these memorials. I know my grandmother is at peace here and in good company.

Forest Hills Cemetery is actually a garden cemetery. Plentiful art sculptures, memorials, architecture and nature to enjoy. This is a registered National Historic site since 2004.
There are events held here year round such as the lantern festival and poetic convergence. As long as gravestones don’t creep you out, you can find serenity while exploring this gorgeous garden or just grazing by the pond.

Petrifyingly gorgeous.
The Sentinel by Fern Cuningham is the best art installation inside the cemetery at that. I wish some areas weren’t off territories to bikes, but c’est la vie, ouais ouais?

Pure Zen with beautiful art work and a peaceful pond where you can read or relax.
Every year they have the lantern festival which is a great way to pray for your loved ones loss. People bring their own picnic foods, there are performers and a stand where you make your own lantern with a scripted message by a Japanese artist from SOWA.

«I see dead people…»
Yeah, so, I recently visited Boston in my semi annual pilgrimage, and instead of going to the Arboretum (also a 5* experience), I was offered an amazing tour of the Cemetery by a friend of mine.
At first I thought it would be creepy, but as she showed me site after cool cite, a was floored at all the history and beauty.
Some highlights:
The E.E. Cummings stone and shrine. You can actually borrow (and hopefully return) E.E.cummings books there.
The cremation area — a special set of plaques and landscaped/​sculptured area for those of want to be in a Cemetery but have their remains cremated
The «new cemetery» Kind of looks like Stonehenge. Cool if you want the aliens to beam you up when they take over the earth (lawl).
Anyway, it was such a fun tour, on a Brisk Boston day, as on the north east has (bright sun, 38 degrees, no wind, with a few fleecy clouds). .
Oh — and it’s free!
I HIGHLY recommend it. See me for tour guide info :-p

I went to the Lantern Festival here a few backs. I must say the grounds are immaculate. I can’t believe I’m Unilocaling a cemetery, but this place is really beautiful. They have a gorgeous pond, too.
The Lantern Festival was very well organized and everything was amazing. I would definitely go back. It made for definite amazing photo taking!

I got engaged here a year ago (not a tombstone in sight btw) in April… why a cemetery you may ask?
This particular cemetery comes with a beautiful scenery and spots without tombstones. There’s a lot of history going on here and a safe tranquility you can escape to. Besides, everyone who knows me knows that I love anything out of the ordinary and this place has it! There are often many art pieces designed by art students that really fits into this place, well worth visiting. I’ve also been here for biking and walking, you know, exercise with the dead and that sort of thing.
If you want to jog somewhere new and interesting or if you’re a photographer in need of inspiration, go to this cemetery!

Wow, this place is such a gem. Dead people usually creep me out, but it’s more like a park than a cemetery. I found myself admiring the art, the trees, the birds, and mostly praising my dog for not violating the sanctity of Joseph Warren’s grave.
Tip: It helps to print out a map before you go. The little info stand at the entrance is usually empty.

Cemeteries inherently have a lot of things going on appeal-​wise. People like them because the headstones are cool, because they’re well landscaped, because someone they know is there, because they’re old, because they’re kind of into The Cure.
Forest Hills Cemetery appeals to pretty much every interest set. Opened and designed in the 19^th century by one of America’s première horticulturalists, the landscape is brilliant, and touts the final resting places of historical notables like William Lloyd Garrison, Dr. Joseph Warren, and e. e. cummings. There’s also a «lake» in the middle, surrounded by creepy gothic vaults (peer into the one marked «Felner.» It’s eery as hell).
There are also art installations throughout from the 19^th century to present. Don’t miss «boy in the boat» or «girl in the glass.»
The cemetery, though it has a number of major landmarks that could presumably help guide you, is very easy to get lost in. If this happens to you, it won’t take long for you to start thinking you’re in some low budget horror movie that isn’t that scary but really freaks you out regardless.
The crematorium is not far off, and holds inside it the ashes of Sacco and Vanzetti, the famous immigrant anarchists who were (possibly) falsely convicted of murder and executed by the state.
Forest Hills also makes a good date spot. I’m serious. There are lots of grassy spots around, and some lovely sculptures to sit next to for picnicking. That may sound creepy, but it is what the place was designed for.

I want to commend the staff at Forest Hills for the variety of events they offer throughout the year. The lantern festival is the most famous but their poetry events and walking tours show a deep interest in bringing this place of the dead back to life, so to speak.
I still haven’t found all the notables I’d like to find here… but that just gives me an excuse to go back.

I don’t want to be buried when I die — my brain is too important to science — but if I would be, I’d want to be buried here, or in a place similar to Forest Hills. I’d like to think that people could enjoy the land and make it a place for the living while also giving them a chance to reflect on life. I like coming here to sit and read and write or go on walks. When I visited one day last summer people were walking their dogs, riding bicycles, doing yoga and reading by the pond. It makes it a vibrant place for recreation as well as self-​reflection and one of those unique things that certainly makes Boston a great place to live.
It’s also a great place to take pictures and of course there are many famous people buried here as well (including one e.e. cummings, whose name on his grave stone is spelled out in all capital letters).

Forest Hills Cemetery was founded to serve the then-​City of Roxbury in 1848. Along with Mt. Auburn in Cambridge, Forest Hills was intended to replace the old Colonial graveyards as a place of contemplation of Nature. The first land bought for the cemetery was the Seaverns farm — note Seaverns ave. off Centre st in Jamaica Plain center. It was expanded to its present size by the purchase of more farm and estate land over the years. Ironically, no sooner did the City of Roxbury open the cemetery than the the southwest portion of the city (including Jamaica Plain) seceded and formed the short-​lived Town of West Robury. The Forest Hills square and neighborhood tooks its name from the cemetery, not the other way around.
Historical nugget: one hunderd years ago, a gang of Latvian yeggmen (bandits) robbed a tavern on Washington st. and shot their way through the streets of Jamaica Plain. They hid out in Forest Hills cemetery, where the police surrounded them for the night. When the police went in, there was a massive shoot-​out, killing one man, while the others escaped, never to be caught.

This place is stunning. I hadn’t thought about where I had planned to spend eternity– despite the prompts from the jesus people with sandwich signs and goofy religious tracts. That is… until I stepped into the Forest Hills Cemetery. I could spend a lazy Sunday picnicking under the shade of one of their many blossoming trees, walk along the paths admiring the sculpture, or venture in among the graves to read about those long since departed.
They often have art walks, as well as concerts and poetry in Forsyth Chapel and festivals such as the legendary Lantern festival (a must do– Thursday July 17^th). For a calendar of events: go to
a true Boston gem!

Forest Hills is where my father, grandparents, great grandparents, aunts and cousins are buried. Today marks the 9^th anniversary of my father’s death so this is a review/​nostalgic moment/​happy anniversary post.
I used to think it was bizarre the way my family had photos of gravestones down through the years with flowers in front of them, and none of me growing up. Now it seems normal. We visited Forest Hills several times a year from the time I was born. Even so, I always get lost in there and even getting there. It’s huge.
There was a reform school next door, and every time we drove by, my parents would tell us we’d end up there if we didn’t behave. It’s still the Dept. of Youth Services. It still makes me a little scared.
Some friends and I went to this year’s Day of the Dead Ceremony in Nov. Very primal setting, lots of incense scenting the autumn air as those in charge of the ceremony built a roaring fire, chanted, the children’s group La Piñata danced, a woman spoke about the ceremony, while gusts of wind blew leaves everywhere and dusk descended.
My dear friend’s family is buried right next door in St. Michael’s Cemetery… also not to be missed… amazing mausoleums and a great kiosk of information… lots and lots of Italian and Sicilians in there ;)).
My family’s favorite memorial is the Boy in the Glass Boat. We allllways stopped off to look at it. We were always warned that’s what would happen if we stepped foot in a boat. Recently I realized that’s what would happen if you stepped foot out of a boat. And they should’ve included the hazards of tennis/​badminton to their cautionary tale to be really thorough.
As listed, lots of notables in here. Not sure if anyone mentioned Eugene O’Neill, Gen. Dearborn, Gen Warren, and there’s a beautiful statue of what looks like a Nigerian woman sitting cross-legged…not sure who she is. I should check.
Always a good place for a picnic.

It seems like everything has been said already. So to sum up– it’s freaking gorgeous, there are art installations and so much nature. And graves. Famous people are buried here (like e.e. cummings, good luck finding his grave!) so there’s that element which adds to the attraction of this place. But I’ve been out to see the famous graves a million times. My favorite part about FH Cemetery is finding something (old, but) new every time. It’s enormous, so each time I take a stroll through, I’ll see some huge gorgeous tree or a really interesting tomb or even just a plain old gravestone with something unique written on it. One of these days I’ll go on a guided tour and get the real experience, but until then I’ll continue to wander up Tower Street on an otherwise boring day and find hours of distractions.

It you like the Arboretum and you aren’t afraid of a little morbidity, Forest Hills Cemetary is the place for you. It is 250 acres of trees, lakes, and graves. There is a chapel there and in addition to the sculptures and masoleums which traditionally accompany cemetaries, this one also has a selection of contemporary sculptures created specifically for a sculpture park that is mapped onto this older plan (originally opened in the 1840’s).
I went there during the height of the snow storms in January and it was absolutely pristine/​gorgeous, I can’t wait to go back now that the weather has improved… I suggest the annual lantern festival which occurs in July. Thousands of paper lanterns are lit and left to float on the lakes for an evening.