University of Maryland in Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Believe it or Not

Photographed by Christopher Busta-Peck, March 26, 2008

1. Believe it or Not Marker

Inscription.
Raised slabs mark a number of grave sites at Westminster, but none has garnered as much attention as this one. Once the subject of a "Ripley's Believe it or Not," this gravity-defying piece of marble continues to fascinate.

This slab was originally part of a lot belonging to William Matthews (1753-1819), a merchant and Revolutionary War veteran.

[photograph]
Longtime Steward Reverened Bruce McDonald, pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church from 1925 until 1959, championed the care and preservation of the burying ground, and tirelessly promoted its historical significance.

Rev. Bruce McDonald inspecting a raised marble grave marker, Spetember 22, 1950
Joshua S. Cosden, photographer
1950, reprinted with the permission of the Baltimore Sun

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Notable Places • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Believe It or Not series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1925.

Location. 39° 17.389′ N, 76° 37.401′ W. Marker is in Baltimore, Maryland. It is in University of Maryland. It can be reached from the intersection of West Fayette Street and North Greene Street. Marker is on the grounds of

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Westminster Hall and Burying Ground. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 509 W Fayette St, Baltimore MD 21201, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Maryland.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic

and in the Chesapeake Bay Region.

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

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 26 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Dugan-Hollins Family Vault (a few steps from this marker); James McHenry (a few steps from this marker); Fame, Fortune and Financial Scandal (a few steps from this marker); Among Family: Poe’s Original Burial Place (a few steps from this marker); A Swashbuckling Merchant (a few steps from this marker); Infusing Style and Sophistication: The Influence of Maximilian Godefroy (a few steps from this marker); Original Burial Place of Edgar Allan Poe (a few steps from this marker); James McHenry, M.D. (a few steps from this marker); A Beloved General (a few steps from this marker); Rev. Patrick Allison (a few steps from this marker); Bernard von Kapff (a few steps from this marker); Local Hero, National Leader (a few steps from this marker); Monumental Lives (a few steps from this marker); The Carriage Gates of Westminster Burying Ground

Marker and the grave marker in question image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Christopher Busta-Peck, March 26, 2008

2. Marker and the grave marker in question

(within shouting distance of this marker); The Gilmors (within shouting distance of this marker); “…a truly affectionate wife” (within shouting distance of this marker); A Mother’s Grief (within shouting distance of this marker); An 18th-Century Burying Ground (within shouting distance of this marker); John McDonogh (within shouting distance of this marker); The McDonoghs of Baltimore (within shouting distance of this marker); The Sleep of Young Innocents (within shouting distance of this marker); Westminster Hall & Burying Ground: Where Baltimore's History Rests in Peace (within shouting distance of this marker); A Monument to the Memory of Edgar Allan Poe (within shouting distance of this marker); Westminster Church and Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); A La Memorie D’Edgar Allan Poe (within shouting distance of this marker); Poe’s Baltimore (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baltimore.

Metal support underneath the grave marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Christopher Busta-Peck, March 26, 2008

3. Metal support underneath the grave marker

Longtime Steward image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 29, 2017

4. Longtime Steward

Reverenced Bruce McDonald, pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church from 1925 until 1959, championed the care and preservation of the burying ground, and tirelessly promoted its historical significance.

Rev. Bruce McDonald inspecting a raised marble grave marker, September 22, 1950
Joshua S. Cosden, photographer
1950, reprinted with the permission of the Baltimore SunClose-up of photo on marker

Marker can be seen just off center, in the midground image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Christopher Busta-Peck, March 26, 2008

5. Marker can be seen just off center, in the midground

Credits. This page was last revised on February 20, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 26, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. This page has been viewed 4,101 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 27, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. 4. submitted on June 3, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 5. submitted on March 27, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio.