With a variety of historically significant landmarks and features, the Pine Grove Cemetery in Lynn, Massachusetts was first established in the mid-1800s. Today this municipally owned cemetery is comprised of roughly 250 acres, but only 82 are developed and hold around 90,000 interments. It is one of the most expansive cemeteries in the United States and is the final resting place for many political leaders, artists, inventors, and paupers. Pine Grove is listed in Ripley’s Believe It or Not because it is home to the world's “second longest contiguous stone wall,” the first being China’s Great Wall. Pine Grove’s wall was constructed by the WPA in the 1930’s and is comprised of fieldstone.
Architecturally interesting features include the Cemetery Office Building, the Pine Grove Cemetery Receiving Tomb, and the Rhodes Memorial Chapel. The office was built in 1860 and sits at the bottom of the hill, just inside the Boston Street entrance. As part of the mid-19th-century design, the Tomb remains intact. It was originally constructed between 1866 and 1868, following the end of the Civil War. The Tomb is in Ruskinian Gothic style and made of granite ashlar construction. The Rhodes Memorial Chapel has a Richardson Romanesque style and was built in 1891. It has been renovated over the years, and its gorgeous stained-glass windows are highly valued. This well-preserved cemetery which was named for the vast forest of pine trees framing its entrance and encircling its Chapel maintains its original picturesque design. The gates of the cemetery are cast iron and are invaluable reminders of its mid-19th-century design.
The most visited grave in the Pine Grove Cemetery is that of the “Golden Greek,” Harry Agganis. Agganis was a BU quarterback and legendary Red Sox first baseman. However, you’ll also find the graves of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin Falls, and William Poole; all awarded the Medal of Honor for their bravery during the Civil War. Elihu Thomson, one of the world’s most prolific inventors, rests here, as does New England artist Charles Herbert Woodbury, and Francis Moore who participated in the Boston Tea Party without wearing a disguise. This intriguing destination in Lynn, Massachusetts is located at 145 Boston Street, and tours are available.