Among the rolling hills of Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville neighborhood historic grounds stand as a testament to old Pittsburgh's devotion to preservation and excellence while creating a common good for society. Along Butler Street sits the former Allegheny Arsenal and the Allegheny Cemetery, sites established in the 1800's. The Allegheny Arsenal, now the site of a city park produced and stored ammunition for the Union Army and after a massive explosion in 1862 became the site of the largest civilian casualty during the Civil War. Allegheny Cemetery demonstrates a stark contrast to what a cemetery should feel like this time of year, morbid. With its headstones of grandeur, precise landscaping and deep rooted history it displays more park-like characteristics than typical cemeteries.
Incorporated in 1844, it became only the fourth cemetery incorporated in the United States.. The final resting place of Pittsburgh and National notoriety, the 300 acre cemetery is home to some of the most unique headstones and mausoleums around. Conceived by Pittsburgh's elite families, the Allegheny Cemetery is the final resting place of over 124,000 people. Inspired by grand rural cemeteries in Philadelphia, New York and Boston, Allegheny Cemetery with its tree lined and extensive winding paths, perfect landscaping, unique headstones and rolling hills is a must see for any Pittsburgh are resident.
I had the intention of visiting the cemetery for several months and could never find the right weather or timing to do so. On my way to the North Shore with my camera a bus rolls by just before the I-376 onramp, its lights flashing....64..LAWRENCEVILLE. A quick change in direction lead me to Lawrenceville and the Butler Street entrance of the Allegheny Cemetery and the timing and weather couldn't have been more perfect. A mid October day with a sky filled with a perfect blend of blue and windblown clouds, excellent temperature and just enough fall colors led to some excellent photographs. A walk along these paths takes you on a trip through the regions history with entire sections of the cemetery devoted to military personnel, congressman, mayors, Musicians, sports greats and leaders of industry. During my time there I came across the headstones of the following:
Charles Avery- Philanthropist who made his fortune in the apothecary business, known abolitionist whom endowed a school for freed slaves and supposedly used his basement as part of the underground railroad.
J.B. Ford - Founder of the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, more commonly known as PPG
General Alexander Hays - Union Army general during the Civil War nicknamed "Fighting Elleck"
William Snyder - Steamboat and Iron baron
S.P Darlington - Pittsburgh merchant
John W. Oliver - American industrialist and steel magnate
General James Scott Negley - Union Army General
The Baum and Winebiddle families and many more
The Allegheny Cemetery is easily Pittsburgh's most unique blend of history, preservation and respect for civic land. Nestled in one of Pittsburgh's rising neighborhoods it is a must see for anyone familiar with the regions background. While it is Halloween and the feeling of the day should lean more towards morbid and creepy, the Allegheny Cemetery takes such subject matter and makes it quite a wonderful spectacle.
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