Walking the Albany Rural Cemetery
Yeah, it does sometimes feel like you're in a Buffy episode.
Many of Albany's famous names found a final resting place in the Albany Rural Cemetery -- it just took them a little while.
As you might expect in a city that's 400-years-old, the problem of where to bury the dead has come up a few times. Way back in the day (the 1700s) city leaders addressed the problem by just moving the town's burial grounds around downtown... which worked fine until people realized the cemeteries were taking up valuable real estate. So what to do? Move the city's cemetery to to the middle of nowhere, or in other words, someplace "rural."
The spot they picked, in what's now Menands, isn't so rural any more. But the cemetery sits like a big park right next to Loudonville. Its hilly landscape is a good place to take a peaceful walk -- you might not see anyone else the entire time you're there.
Here's a good route to take:
+ Park near the chapel mausoleum on Cemetery Ave
+ Walk up the hill along Middle Ridge Road
+ Turn left on Linden Ave
+ Then take another left on South Ridge Road -- this will lead you back down the hill near the place you started (it'll be off to the left)
(a pdf map of the cemetery)
This route will take you past the graves of many names you'll recognize from Albany history (Quackenbush and Schuyler, for example). You'll also walk past the grave of President Chester A. Arthur.
Here are a few pictures from along the way:
This might be the best name in the cemetery:
Find It
The Albany Rural Cemetery
Cemetery Ave
Albany, NY 12204
Dogs are allowed, but they have to be on a leash.
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Comments
Thanks for posting this. One thing I've always done on trips is to visit the graves of famous people. I've been to the author's ridge in Concord, Ma where Louisa May Alcott, Emerson, Thoreau are buried. Even checked most of the famous names buried in Westminster Abbey. Somehow, it just never occurred to me to check my own backyard. It would be something interesting to do on a weekend.
... said Josie on Aug 25, 2008 at 12:38 PM | link
People are just dying to get in there. HAHAHAHAHA High five!!!
... said Pantaloons on Aug 25, 2008 at 1:10 PM | link
How many people in that cemetery are dead?
... said James Frederick on Aug 25, 2008 at 5:55 PM | link
Shhhhh... Don't tell anyone about Albany Rural. I want to keep it quiet for myself!
Also, the coolest name is not Artemas Fish, but Minnie Cooper, who is located just down from the Chester Arthur grave.
... said Ryan on Aug 28, 2008 at 12:33 PM | link
As a long-time ARC walker, I've gotta vote for "John Crapo" (see pic).
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/1658/crapograveyq2.jpg
... said Ron on Aug 30, 2008 at 12:06 PM | link
Artemas Fish is a perfectly good name. And nice photo of the Burden family crypt!
... said Amanda on Sep 1, 2008 at 8:39 PM | link
I am looking for the grave of John Whipple, murdered 1827 and originally interred in the Episcopal burial grounds and moved to ARC in 1860.
Anyone know where this plot is?
... said Mike Worden on Dec 18, 2009 at 12:28 AM | link