Allison Hill in Harrisburg in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Harrisburg Cemetery

Photographed by William Pfingsten, March 30, 2008

1. Harrisburg Cemetery Marker

Inscription. Here is established Harrisburg's oldest and largest Cemetery and final resting place of many noted individuals of national, state and local importance in all walks of life. Chartered in 1845, the Cemetery was created just outside the limits of the then-Borough of Harrisburg on the rural bluff of what would be later known as Allison Hill. It became evident that a new cemetery, properly situated as a tribute to Harrisburg's by-gone generations, was required to fulfill the need to relocate graves from the older churchyard cemeteries downtown that were being replaced by the increased demand for new building construction. In 1845, the Carpenter Gothic-styled caretaker's house was completed and remains to this day in its original form with floor plan in the sign of a cross. Dead from all American Wars, including the Revolutionary War and Civil War, as well as Confederate prisoners from the Battle of Gettysburg who died in Harrisburg hospitals, are reposed here. The Cemetery is also the final resting place of four Pennsylvania Governors, most of the Mayors of Harrisburg, a number of United States Senators and U.S. Congressmen

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and many of Harrisburg's famous merchants, business leaders, bankers, lawyers and judges. Well known names such as Cameron, Olmsted, Kunkel, McCormick, Kelker, Muench, Verbeke, Reily and McFarland are all interred here. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the 30-acre Harrisburg Cemetery is one of the few cemeteries in Pennsylvania to hold such a distinction. This site is literally an outdoor museum of obelisks, statuary, monuments and mausoleums commemorating those who have contributed to building the Nation's and Harrisburg's distinguished legacies. Space remains for additional burials in the future.
Top Photo
Circa 1910 postcard view of Cemetery's main entrance at N. 13th and Liberty Streets.
Middle Photo
Circa 1910 view of Caretaker's House looking south.
Bottom Photo
Circa 1910 view looking north from second floor of Caretaker's House.

Erected by The Harrisburg History Project Commissioned by Mayor Stephen R. Reed.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, US Civil • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP),

Caretaker's House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Pfingsten, March 30, 2008

2. Caretaker's House

and the Pennsylvania, The Harrisburg History Project series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1845.

Location. 40° 15.741′ N, 76° 52.287′ W. Marker is in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in Dauphin County. It is in Allison Hill. It is at the intersection of Liberty Street and 13th Street, on the left when traveling east on Liberty Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 Crescent St, Harrisburg PA 17104, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania, specifically in Pennsylvania Dutch Country,

and in the Susquehanna Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Mount Pleasant Press - The J. Horace McFarland Company (here, next to this marker); A. Carson Stamm Residence (approx. 0.2 miles

Harrisburg Cemetery Entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Pfingsten, March 30, 2008

3. Harrisburg Cemetery Entrance

away); Old Webster Elementary School (approx. 0.2 miles away); Old Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Station (approx. 0.3 miles away); Mulberry Street Bridge (approx. 0.3 miles away); Harrisburg Station and Trainshed (approx. 0.4 miles away); Ground Breakers / Footsteps on the Bethel Trail (approx. 0.4 miles away); Old Pennsylvania Railroad Station (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Harrisburg.

Grave markers near the Caretaker's House. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Pfingsten, March 30, 2008

4. Grave markers near the Caretaker's House.

Weeping cherry trees and violets in the lawn create a romantic Victorian setting in the cemetery. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by John K. Robinson, April 13, 2006

5. Weeping cherry trees and violets in the lawn create a romantic Victorian setting in the cemetery.

Photographed by John K. Robinson, April 13, 2006

6. Harrisburg Cemetery Marker

The cemetery is situated on the edge of Allison Hill overlooking downtown Harrisburg. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by John K. Robinson, April 13, 2006

7. The cemetery is situated on the edge of Allison Hill overlooking downtown Harrisburg.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 24, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 2, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 3,704 times since then and 98 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 2, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 5, 6, 7. submitted on May 17, 2008, by John K. Robinson of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.