10 Famous Massachusetts Graves

As one of our nation’s oldest states, Massachusetts certainly boasts quite a bit of history. When you think of historic Massachusetts landmarks, your mind probably first goes to famous monuments, battlegrounds or the former homes of our country’s founding fathers. You may not immediately think of cemeteries as a top destination for history enthusiasts. That said, several Massachusetts cemeteries are the final resting places of some of the most important people in American history. Here we share where you can visit and pay your respects to some of our nation’s most influential writers, politicians, activists and more. 

1. Henry David Thoreau

One of the founders of the Transcendentalist movement, Thoreau’s poems and essays are still taught in many classrooms today. One of his most famous subjects, Walden Pond, is located in Concord, MA and is a favorite attraction for nature lovers. Thoreau is buried in the famous Sleepy Hollow Cemetery (also located in Concord).

2. Paul Revere

You’d be hard pressed to find an American citizen who doesn’t know about Paul Revere’s famous midnight ride. To this day you can still visit the former home of Revere, which is located in the North End neighborhood of Boston, MA. Revere is buried nearby in Granary Burying Ground. 

3. Clara Barton

The beloved and revered founder of the American Red Cross, Clara Barton is remembered as a hero of the Civil War. She is buried in North Cemetery in Oxford, located in Worcester County, Massachusetts. 

4. Ralph Waldo Emerson

A colleague of Henry David Thoreau’s and a fellow founder of the Transcendentalist movement, Emerson is best known for his poems and writings. He too is buried in Sleepy Hollow.

5. E.E. Cummings

A prolific writer and a native of Cambridge, MA, E.E. Cummings is best known for his works such as "The Enormous Room." He rests in Forest Hills Cemetery, located in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. 

6. John Hancock

Perhaps best known for his signing of the Declaration of Independence, Hancock is one of Massachuesetts’s - and the country’s - most well-known names. He was the governor of Massachusetts for nine terms, and he too is buried in Granary Burying Ground alongside many other iconic MA natives.

7. Emily Dickinson

Dickinson rose to acclaim as a poet in the 1800s. Most people may not know that the majority of her poems were published after her passing. She is originally from Amherst, MA and is buried in West Cemetery in Amherst.

8. Samuel Adams

Yet another American patriot to be buried in Granary Burying Ground, Sam Adams has staked his place in American history as one of the nation’s Founding Fathers and a strong voice of the Revolution.

9. Nathaniel Hawthorne

Salem, Massachusetts - known today for its strong ties to the witch trials of American folklore and the town’s heavy association with Halloween - is the birthplace of one of the nation’s most famous authors, Nathaniel Hawthorne. Perhaps best known for his novel "The Scarlet Letter," Hawthorne is buried in Concord at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

10. Louisa May Alcott

“Little Women” is an American classic that has since been adopted for the big screen multiple times. Louisa May Alcott published the novel in two parts, the first in 1868 and the second in 1869. She too is buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. 

This list is just a sample of the many famous Massachusetts graves that American history buffs and culture seekers can visit. For more information on famous cemeteries throughout the United States (and the world) that are worth the visit, be sure to read our post: “10 Famous Cemeteries to Visit.”