West Cambridge in Middlesex County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
Old Burying Ground
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, June 18, 2021
1. Old Burying Ground Marker
Burial place of early settlers
Tory landowners and slaves
Soldiers · Presidents of Harvard and prominent men of Cambridge
1635
Erected by Cambridge Historical Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1635.
Location. 42° 22.497′ N, 71° 7.15′ W. Marker is in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in Middlesex County. It is in West Cambridge. It is at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Garden Street, on the right when traveling south on Massachusetts Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1450 Garden St, Cambridge MA 02138, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Boston. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: History of Cambridge (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Cambridge (within shouting distance of this marker); Route of William Dawes (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Cambridge / Religion and Government in the Early History of Cambridge (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Old Cambridge (within shouting distance of this marker); Revolutionary War Memorial (about 300 feet away,
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Historic 1734 Boston Milestone. The history of the 1734 Boston milestone on the cemetery grounds (photo included on this page) is detailed in: Samuel Abbott Green, "Early Mile-Stones Leading from Boston," Cambridge: John Wilson, 1909. (Submitted on July 22, 2025, by R.J. OHara of Fitchburg, Massachusetts.)
2. History and Epitaphs of the Old Burying Ground in Cambridge. For the history of this cemetery and a transcription of its gravestones, see: William Thaddeus Harris, "Epitaphs from the Old Burying-Ground in Cambridge," Cambridge: John Owen, 1845. (Submitted on July 22, 2025, by R.J. OHara of Fitchburg, Massachusetts.)
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, June 18, 2021
2. Old Burying Ground and Marker
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, June 18, 2021
3. A Milestone in the Old Burying Ground
Boston
8 Miles
1734 A.I.
8 Miles
1734 A.I.
Photographed by R.J. OHara, July 3, 2025
4. Old Burying Ground in Cambridge
View of the Old Burying Ground looking east across Massachusetts Avenue into Harvard Yard. Photographed on the 250th anniversary of George Washington taking command of the Continental Army on the Cambridge Common, across the street to the north. The gravestone in the lower left with the flag belongs to Samuel Cook (ca. 16551731).
Credits. This page was last revised on July 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2021, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 471 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 11, 2021, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. 4. submitted on July 22, 2025, by R.J. OHara of Fitchburg, Massachusetts.
