Once you reach Copp's Hill Burying Ground on the Freedom Trail, you have a sense of accomplishment. You got almost to the end, at the border of North End with Charlestown. The cemetery is easy to spot, has a plaque at the entrance, free to visit. Not very crowded, on the hill, peaceful site. Capt. Daniel Malcolm, smuggler and supporter of the Sons of Liberty is buried here, also, Robert Newman, known for hanging the lanterns during Paul Revere's midnight ride, Edmund Hartt, builder of the USS Constitution, free African Americans and other historical figures. Another historical site, Copp's Hill dates from 1659 and it was Boston's largest colonial burying ground. Definitely worth the visit, you can stay as long as you want. We spend about 30 minutes in here, lots of nice greenery (we were here late summer). As usual, you get interesting puzzle pieces of history while browsing this site. read more

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This burial ground is popular on tours of Boston. We visited on a different mission. To pay respect to a spot that does not get much recognition. Prince Hall fought for Black men to become Freemasons. read more

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I really great experience and was the end of where we stopped on the freedom trail saving the other side of the river for another trip. Highly recommended that you walk the whole trail and this is yet another beautiful stop on the trip. read more

Absolutely loved this stop on the freedomtrail. I do wish they kept the grounds a little bit better. The Copp's Hill Burying Ground was established in 1659 as the 2nd cemetery in Boston after King's Chapel filled up. Originally named the North Burying Ground, later took on the name of shoemaker William Copp, who had once owned the land. During the Revolutionary War, the British occupied Copp's Hill. They placed batteries on the western slope of the hill between Hull and Snowhill Streets to fire on Bunker Hill. They also shot some of the gravestones, which still bear the scars (Grave of Captain Daniel Malcolm) Copp's Hill cemetery is only 4 acres and records show between 10,000-11,000 burials took place here, but not all of those people remain. Some were disinterred and moved to the upscale Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge when it opened in 1831. Grave robbers also stole bodies for dissection at the Harvard Medical School. Notable residents that still remain here are: : The Reverends Increase Mather and Cotton Mather made famous by the Salem witchcraft trials. Also Samuel Mather, an independent minister. (I literally just got done reading a book on these guys so sooo cool to see their grave in person!) Robert Newman, patriot and sexton of Old North Church who hung the lanterns in the church steeple to tell Paul Revere and William Dawes which way the British Regulars were coming Edward Hartt, who built the U.S.S. Constitution, known as "Old Ironsides." Shem Drowne, coppersmith and maker of famous weathervanes including the grasshopper atop Faneuil Hall Prince Hall, founder of the Black Masons, now known as the Prince Hall Masons More than 1,000 slaves and free African Americans from the New Guinea community once located at the bottom of Copp's Hill John White Webster, executed for the murder of Dr. George Parkman and buried in an unmarked grave. read more

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Visiting Copp's Hill Burying Ground was part of a pizza tour we did in the North End of Boston. The cemetery was founded in 1659 and sits atop Copp's Hill and is the second oldest cemetery in the city. There are more than 1200 marked graves but our guide said the city estimates that many more thousands are buried here. Many notable early colonists are buried here which is interesting. Increase Mather and his son Cotton Mather were influential Puritan Ministers who were central figures in the Salem Witch Trials in the 17th century. Prince Hall and abolitionist and founder of Black Freemasonry, Phyllis Wheatley the first published poet of African descent, Robert Newman, a patriot who placed signal lanterns in the steeple of Old North Church for Paul Revere's ride to Lexington and Concord and many more others. The grave headstones are still fairly intact and it gives you some insight how old this cemetery is. Being on top of the hill gives you a nice view of Bunker Hill and the USS Constitution across the river. It's definitely a stop when visiting the North End of town. read more

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First stop on the Freedom Trail for us and a nice place to rest after the Hadji from Bunker Hill. We imagined the British (us) have the high ground advantage as they fired on Bunker from here. We wandered around and visited with Cotton Mather to discuss witchcraft and vaccination, (a believer in both). This is a smashing little graveyard on a hill full of macabre headstones carved with winged skulls, dancing skeletons, and pithy reminders of impending death. read more

Another stop in the Freedom Trail. Really great history of the graves, what the symbols in the tombstones mean and the way they did the year of death with fractions for the year. Make this a stop when you go to Boston! read more

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A must visit for any history buff or cemetery enthusiast. Copp's Hill Burying Ground is the final resting place and burying ground of merchants, artisans, and craftspeople who lived in the North End of Boston . Copp's Hill was Boston's largest colonial burying ground, dating from 1659. If you've never seen a colonial New England style headstone , Copp's Hill is full of them . They are easy to spot because early New England gravestones are made of slate and sandstone and are very thin. The minimalist decoration and lack of embellishment of the early headstone designs reflect the British Puritan and Anglo-Saxon religious cultures. The morbid imagery on the headstones --such as skulls and crossed bones, winged death's heads, and hourglasses--were designed to remind those left behind of the fleeting nature of life. I love the funerary art found on these early New England headstones ! I have always enjoyed exploring old cemeteries for the funerary art I am drawn to bold and fun commercial art, and that to me is exactly what gravestones are. They are signposts advertising who is buried there, and the very old ones have a real flair for it that you will find plenty of in Copp's Hill. Some notables buried in Copp's Hill are fire-and-brimstone preacher Cotton Mather, a Puritan minister closely associated with the Salem witch trials. The burying ground also holds Old North Church sexton Robert Newman, the man who hung the lanterns on the night of Paul Revere's midnight ride. Also, several participants of the Boston Tea Party are buried here and there graves have a special marker that read , " Boston tea party participant." It's a very historical , interesting and peaceful place to spend some time at while visiting Boston. read more

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The cemetery was founded on February 20, 1659, when the town bought land on Copps hill from John Baker and Daniel Turell to start the "North Burying Ground". Now named "Copp's Hill Burying Ground" (although often referred to as "Copp's Hill Burial Ground"), it is the second oldest cemetery in Boston (second only to the King's chapel burying ground founded in 1630). It contains more than 1200 marked graves, including the remains of various notable Bostonians from the colonials era into the 1850s. On the Snow Hill Street side are the many unmarked graves of the African Americans who lived in the "New Guinea" community at the foot of the hill. In addition to the graves there are 272 tombs, most of which bear inscriptions that are still legible. read more

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This is Boston's we one burying ground and holds the tombs of the Mather family! Not to mention some very prominent African American tombs as well, such as Phyllis Wheatley, the first published woman of African descent that was also a poet. You can see the tomb of Cotton Mather, the Puritan minister that was a central figure of the Salem witch trials...very cool burying ground! The headstones are remarkably beautiful - very Victorian gothic style! There are many other ancient historical internments here as well, but I did have some difficulties finding some of the graves as they're very old and worn so it's almost impossible to read a lot of them. Still, it's very eerily beautiful and well kept. It's easy to find but parking can be a challenge...I think there's some street parking but it was all full. I ended up parking in a garage a block away - was only there for an hour and it was an exorbitant $15!!! So be aware! Probably better to just walk it. read more

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A must stop on the Freedom Trail, Copp's Hill dates back to 1659, and has a rich history, which can be found here https://www.thefreedomtrail.org/trail-sites/copps-hill-burying-ground Amazing old gravestones, and there are plenty of placards to explain the history, and use of the grounds, and famous people buried here. Views of Old North Church are amazing as you walk up to Copp's. read more

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One of the stops on our Ghosts & Graveyards tour, Copp's Hill is located in Boston's North End. It's quite a remarkable cemetery with many famous Bostonians laid to rest here. Located on a hill where there was once a windmill, it was the city's largest colonial burying ground and dates from 1659. Quite spooky at night but the walkways are smooth enough to safely walk in low light. Interestingly, it was used by the British during the battle of Bunker Hill in 1775. read more

Copp's Hill Burying Ground - Copp’s Hill Burying Ground in Boston's North End - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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If you're a history buff like we are then you definitely need to check out Copp's Hill while in Boston. Tons of history packed into this small cemetery. There are signs everywhere to inform you who's buried where and what they were known for. We had a great time walking around and learning about different people that all played a vital role in U.S. history. If cemeteries freak you out you may want to skip but honestly this one is not scary whatsoever. read more

Um how could you leave Copp's Hill less than a 5 star rating? I'd surprisingly never been here before and I'm sad to say that. I took my friend here after we did a tour of the Old North Church and only had a few mins to walk around, but it was so cool to check out all the headstones. Definitely will have to come back someday. read more

Copps Hill Burying Ground is well maintained and an easy stop on the way to the Old North Church on the Freedom Trail. This is the resting place of quite a number of notable historic figures. Among the most famous are Paul Revere, Sam Adams, and Cotton Mather. Cotton Mather was a Puritan minister who was an integral part of the Salem Witch Trials. Over and above the historical figures that are buried here, this site is interesting because the British placed cannons here that they fired during the Battle of Bunker Hill. You can also see quite a number of headstones that were damaged when the Red Coats used them as targets. While you can walk around and see the place for yourself, there are guided tours available; I suggest that you take one. read more

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In the Copp's Hill Burying Ground history is alive. It is a history going back to February 20, 1659 when the cemetery was created on Copp's Hill. This is time in Boston History before the United States of America. As a matter of fact during the Battle of Bunker Hill, the British used Copp's Hill to train their canons across the Charles River to Charlestown. On June 30, 1704; seven pirates were hung on gallows in Copp's Hill. When we talk about Copp's Hill the majority of it is the cemetery that was originally named The North Burying Ground. The name would change to Copp's Hill Burying Ground, named after William Capp the shoemaker. Copp's Hill Burying Ground is in the far northern area of the North End on the crest of a hill that overlooks the Charles River, historic buildings including the narrowest house in Boston, and the spire of the Old North Church. It is one of the points of interest along Boston's Freedom Trail. When you travel southbound on the Freedom Trail toward Boston Commons, it is the first point of interest south of the Charlestown Bridge. One of the days we walked the Boston Freedom Trail, we picked it up from Commercial Street which is south of the Charlestown Bridge where it is the start of the brick pavement through the North End. It is also the hilliest segment of the Boston Freedom Trail. When we followed the Freedom Trail onto Hill Street we were parallel to a wall on the left. This was the border of the second oldest cemetery in Boston. With the Old North Church in clear view ahead a few hundred feet before it, we entered the Copp's Hill Burying Ground. Entering the cemetery required climbing up a few steps. I have never reviewed a cemetery before. This is more than a cemetery. It is alive with history. Being surrounded by headstones that date back to 1776 in a scenic outdoor square parcel interspersed with mature trees on a hill overlooking the water is an interesting experience. It is a learning experience. Throughout the cemetery, there are plaques that provide vital facts and information. Speaking of vital facts, two of the deceased that are buried here include 1) Robert Newman who is the man who hung the lanterns on that famous night when a few stops down the Freedom Trail Paul Revere was on his midnight ride and 2) Edmund Hartt the man who built the USS Constitution which is the famous ship off the Freedom Trail north of the Charlestown Bridge. In the cemetery, we did a combination of resting and walking. I noticed that time hasn't been too kind to many of the grave stones that date all the way back to the 1700s. Many are shot where the inscriptions are worn out and intelligible. However, there are others that time has been kind to. I noticed that quite a few headstones featured a winged skull. This piqued my curiosity. The winged skull is the symbol of death and mortality. On a warm Boston summer day, it was relaxing resting under a mature tree that might of been alive at the same time as Robert Newman and Edmundt Hart. It was peaceful yet not devoid of noise. There were plenty of people sharing the second oldest cemetery with me, my family, and the deceased buryed here. Above the people and tombstones and across Hill Street was an interesting streetscape of the northernmost historic and charming residential buildings in the North End. In conclusion my first cemetery review produces a 4 star rating. At Copp's Burying Ground history does not rest in peace. History lives on the first southbound Boston Freedom Trail stop in the North End. read more

Just mind boggling. The gravestones are so thin! Nice to see the Boston Tea Party stones marked.

Ok this is going to sound weird but i like old interesting cemeteries. This is from the 1800's and i found it interesting. There was someone in a costume giving some tour .. i think it was a ghost tour read more

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This was one of my favorite stops while we were walking the Freedom Train in Boston. Beautifully located on a hill, and filled with many people who were killed before our nation became a nation...in 1776. Humbling to look at the headstones, and read a bit about each person. OK, I admit I love old cemeteries...lol. This one did not disappoint!. Easy to get to as you walk around the trail (that is marked by inlaid red brick). Amazing place.. There was something that was kind of annoying. There was an actor dressed up like a dead lady, and no matter where we were in the cemetery, we could hear her . She had a group of tourists, and was hamming it up. read more

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Lots of history at this burial ground. Definitely do your research before visiting so as to find the interesting well known people buried here and download maps to find their gravestones. Lots of scavenger hunting happening here. Many of these gravestones are so old that the writing is barely visible. Cotton Mather is buried here and he dates back to the Salem Witch Trials. read more

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As part of the Liberty trail within the North End, Copp's Hill is an old cemetery dating as far back as the early 1700's. Graves are mostly weather-worn slabs that vary from having maintained their upright position to those that have slanted dramatically. There are a few larger tombs around but nothing too extravagant given the era. It's a very calming place with a rich history behind it (see other reviews), mostly surrounding the American revolutions. A number of tour companies have this as a stop on their Liberty Trail tours, so you may be able to learn more by standing within earshot. Great to see that Boston actually takes care of its historical sites within densely populated areas (NY does not). This is an easy visit along with Old North Church and Paul Revere's house if you're a visiting history buff like me. read more

"There's no use in my trying to tell you what they were like, because the awful, the blasphemous horror, and the unbelievable loathsomeness and moral foetor came from simple touches quite beyond the power of words to classify. There was none of the exotic technique you see in Sidney Sime, none of the trans-Saturnian landscapes and lunar fungi that Clark Ashton Smith uses to freeze the blood. The backgrounds were mostly old churchyards, deep woods, cliffs by the sea, brick tunnels, ancient panelled rooms, or simple vaults of masonry. Copp's Hill Burying Ground, which could not be many blocks away from this very house, was a favourite scene." --H.P. Lovecraft, "Pickman's Model" Plan your route to visit carefully. Anyone wishing to drive and park is torn apart and fed to ghouls. read more

Copp's Hill Burying Ground - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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One of the reasons why I loved this Burying Ground was the beautiful view! The view is absolutely breathtaking and you can see the Bunker Hill memorial! While this Burying Ground doesn't have the many names that the Granary Burial Ground and King's Chapel Burying Ground, it still has a lot of history! Roam around and read the tombstones to get an idea of how people were back then. It gives you a glimpse of how they viewed death. read more

Copp's Hill Burying Ground - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

SPOILER ALERT: Mongo's thumbs hurt from typing. So Mongo copy and paste from Mongo's Granary Burying Grounds: Mongo no like graveyards. Mongo always sad at here. Mongo get heebie jeebies at here. Mongo no take pictures. Mongo think it not respectful. But Mrs. Mongo like graveyards so Mongo go to graveyard. Mrs. Mongo also like watching tv shows about murder so maybe that's the reason. (Also, Mongo no like that Mrs. Mongo recently start taking notes when she watch the murder tv shows!) Anywho, If you like graveyards from olden times then Mongo say go. If you no like graveyards then don't tell your Mrs. Mongo about this place. Mongo feel like whistling...(right past this place). read more

Rich history in a small beautiful graveyard. I really enjoyed reading the plaques here in Copp's Hill Burying Ground. They provide both a history of events and an explanation of what you see around yourself. Plus, bonus fun facts! For example, gravestones were often reused, which is why one of the pictures I took shows upside down writing on the back of one! read more

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Yay another graveyard full of people I have no clue who the hell they are... Better known as another stop on the Boston Freedom Trail. I stopped here while traipsing more to let the munchkin take a quick respite and rest than anything else. A lot of standardized tombstones, and I didn't notice anyone of note. Pro Tip: Its downhill for a ways after this stop on the freedom trail. Its literally on the top of Copps Hill. Scenic vistas may be seen and it provides a bit of shade in the summer sun. If its winter, well yeah I guess it just allow the billing snow to fly more unimpeded into you =\ Definitely a spot to take a break as the munchkin and I did. But otherwise, it is just another graveyard on the Freedom Trail and worth a stop for that reason alone I suppose. The vistas do help a bit though I might add. read more

Another great place with lots of history. The cemetery features some very old and historical gravestones. Definitely worth a few minutes to check out. read more

Copp's Hill Burying Ground - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Copp's Hill Burying Ground has that grim New England air one can often find in the writings of Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, and HP Lovecraft. It has the perfect atmosphere for a creepy scene involving dour Puritans, intoning on mankind's sins as the winter snow slowly trickles down. Copp's Hill Burying Ground is not like the fancier Auburn Cemetery in Lowell (that also has a fancier name) It shows its age and decay. It is also the final resting place of famous preachers like Increase and Cotton Mather, whose fire&brimstone sermons left the early New Englanders in shock&awe. Copp's Hill Burying Ground is a very energetic place (not solely on account of the tourists) Unlike a regular park, one feels that there are others there though unseen. The Puritans and the Pilgrims may have made their way into the history books, but in this place, they are very much with us. read more

Copp's is my favorite of the old burying grounds in Boston. My all-time favorite would be Mt. Auburn across the Charles River. The main reason this place is worth peeking at-- it isn't packed like King's Chapel or Granary Burial Ground by Park Street. Since this is further from the city center, not that many tourist reach here. That means more cemetery for you! Whoohoo! No one to disturb you as you try to make out headstones and find your WASPy ancestors. Plus, from here, you can see the Bunker Hill Memorial (without crossing the bridge in the winter) and get a glimpse of the USS Constitution. Of note, make sure you check out the grave Prince Hall, the founder of the African American branch of the Masons. Cambridge is looking to put up their own shrine to Prince Hall soon, but this is where he's really resting in peace. In honor of Mather Lather next weekend, I would also like to point out, especially to all you Harvard folks, that Increase and Cotton Mather (the namesakes of Mather House, Harvard College) are both buried here. There's an old family tomb here with a few new markers that actually haven't faired that much better than the old ones. The Mathers are in the far right corner of the grave yard. Today, I noticed one of those annoying Ghosts and Gravestones tours with the souped up trolleys doing a tour of the burial grounds today. Never done a tour, but it would be interesting to know what they say about the place. I'm sure it isn't as haunted as the Old North Church (of Revere fame) just down the street, which has more than 1000 bodies buried under it (no kidding)! Now let me just rant a little. If you believe in ghosts, the North End would be filled with so many spirits that it would have the density of Tao on a Saturday night. They would all have to live in massive tenement high rises and build ghostly infrastructure to sustain them all... unless you believe their energy can all occupy the same finite space... anyways tangent. Before you leave the burying ground, check out the thin house diagonally across the entrance. It's a spite house (house built to spite someone else) and the narrowest house in Boston. Cool, eh?? read more

Spooky little graveyard near the North End. Also right near where the molasses thing exploded years ago. Anyhow - there are a lot more people buried here than the # of headstones you see. That's cause back in the day, if you wanted a nice headstone but couldn't afford it, you'd pay the gravedigger to bury you under someone else's headstone. They'd dig up the grave, stomp down the bones of the person who was there, and throw you on top. Also - see that stone table? Well, if you lift up the top you'll find decrepit stairs running to underground caverns full of dead people. Also - a tunnel leading to the harbor where they used to smuggle in people, booze, etc. Nice huh? read more

How do you rate and review a cemetery? First, I lived close by for several years and never saw ghosts. I don't think it is remotely spooky. I do think it is clean and has a strong historical value. It is less crowded than other cemeteries in Boston so it's easier to feel that history. read more

I'm giving Copp's Hill 4 stars for a couple of reasons. First, it's the second oldest cemetery in all of Boston. Secondly, it's at the top of the street where the Old North church is. There's no reason to not make the short walk up the hill. With that being said, you'd have to be really good at history to recognize some of the names buried here. Google is your friend. For me, it just didn't have the same impact compared to Granary Burrying Ground. read more

Copp's Hill Burying Ground - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Visiting cemeteries aren't weird when they're historic like Copp's Hill. Some of the oldest headstones in Boston. Burial place for Cotton Mather and sons. Pretty cool. read more

We stopped at Copp's Hill Burying Ground along the Freedom Trail. It was at the top of a hill up from the Old North Church. There are a number of historical figures buried here and it was neat to explore the grounds. Like most old cemeteries much of the engraving on the headstones are hard to read. read more

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To me you're better off visiting Granary than this one. Especially, if you are limited on time. You get the same kind of feel form both locations, but more famous people were buried at the other site. read more

This burying ground on the Freedom Trail has a wonderful location up on a hill with a nice view towards Bunker's Hill. There was some fascinating signage about how this location and height caused it to be used by the British in part of the battles to bombard Breed's Hill. It is also the burial location for about 10 or 11,000 folks, despite the fact that there are only about 2,200 headstones surviving today. I recommend at least skimming some of the signage - it really enhances your visit. read more

It was an incredible pain in the butt to figure out where to park. We drove around for an HOUR before finally finding a valet parking garage and paying $9 for 45 minutes of parking. Practically every on-street parking spot we found was marked "residents only". I don't know if all of Boston is like this, but we found it very aggravating! Now that I've gotten that off my chest: the cemetery is quite lovely. It's small but well maintained and has various placards around with historical info. I also enjoyed the spontaneous company of a feline attendant who made sure to get in all of our photographs. ;) read more

Went the other night with my kids and wife but it was fenced, locked and closed tight. I guess everyone's just dying to get in... read more

Copp's hill is in great condition and I highly recommend it if you're into history or old cemeteries. There are lots of headstones and signs giving information about the cemetery. It's a pretty peaceful place to walk around and look. It's also in a great area to get something to eat while exploring the city. read more

Located at the end of the Freedom Trail in the North End. Good place to stop and take on the rest of the Freedom Trail in Charlestown another day. Good signage about the cemetery. The cemetery is in fact, on a hill which probably had a great view of the area before it all got built up by home all around the Ground. Always interesting to look around. No admission charge. Fewer tourists here due to the comparatively remote location. read more