You probably don’t expect a cemetery to read like an epic saga of civic neglect, abandonment, grassroots activism — and rebirth. That’s exactly what you get when you visit Mount Moriah Cemetery. Opened in 1855, this sprawling 200‑acre cemetery was once one of Pennsylvania’s grandest rural burial grounds. It served as a burial place for people of varied backgrounds — including African‑Americans, Jews, Muslims, middle‑class families, and veterans — a rarity among cemeteries of its time thanks to its inclusive burial policy.
Yet by 2011, the cemetery’s caretakers had folded, the gates shut, and the founding association dissolved, leaving the grounds to rot. Overgrown vegetation, illegal dumping, toppled monuments and criminal neglect turned it into what many described as a ghostly wasteland.
What followed — perhaps even more remarkable — is a slow but steady effort by a community nonprofit, Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery, along with a court-appointed steward group Mount Moriah Cemetery Preservation Corporation. Over the years they’ve cleared brush, reset headstones, stabilized the historic gatehouse, and begun restoring the cemetery’s dignity.
Today, roughly 60–70% of the cemetery has been reclaimed and reopened to visitors on weekends.
What Makes Mount Moriah Worth Visiting (If You’re Brave Enough)
Walking through Mount Moriah is like strolling through layers of Philadelphia’s history — from Civil War legends to ordinary families, and from Victorian mausoleums to modern abandonment.
The cemetery contains two military burial plots maintained by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The “Soldiers’ Lot” on the Philadelphia side holds the remains of hundreds of Civil War‑era soldiers, while the “Naval Plot” in the Yeadon portion includes thousands of sailors and Marines.
Some sections still display the grandeur of 19th‑century funerary architecture: marble mausoleums, ornate obelisks, and monuments erected by families who once prided themselves on legacy and lineage.
At the same time, nature has taken over in large swathes. Walking among leaning headstones, trees pushing through cracked mausoleum walls, and vines creeping across tombs evokes a sense of eerie beauty — a feeling of history slowly being reclaimed by the earth.
The cemetery is also a living green space. Many mature trees provide a hauntingly beautiful canopy above weathered graves and woodland paths.
Atmosphere & Feel — A Haunting Beauty in Two Contrasts
In some areas, the restored sections feel peaceful and contemplative — well‑kept paths, visible headstones, clear lines of sight, and a calm, respectful ambience. It’s easy to imagine visitors quietly exploring family history, reading headstones, or enjoying a somber walk through older parts of the city’s past.
But in other corners, particularly the Yeadon side and farther from the main entrance, the vibe’s very different. Dense brambles, leaning headstones, toppled monuments, cracked gatehouses, and thick overgrowth give off a desolate, post‑apocalyptic feel. It’s the kind of place photographers, urban explorers, and history‑hounds gravitate toward — but it’s not for the faint of heart.
That duality is part of the cemetery’s charm: equal parts solemn, historical reverence and eerie, poetic decay.
Other Considerations
Is it safe to visit? The cemetery is open to the public — but only on weekends (typically Saturday and Sunday, from about 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). Gates are locked the rest of the week, and opening depends on volunteer availability and weather conditions. Because some areas are still overgrown or fragile, you’re advised not to climb, lean against, or touch monuments or mausoleums.
Can I access the entire cemetery? Not quite. Because the cemetery spans a busy divided road (Cobbs Creek Parkway), you cannot drive straight through from one side to the other. And although volunteers have reopened a majority of the area, some parts remain overgrown or unstable, so access can be limited.
When’s the best time to visit? Weekends, when gates are open — ideally in spring or fall when the woods are atmospheric but not overly overgrown.
Who might enjoy it most? History buffs, cemetery and architecture enthusiasts, photographers, urban explorers, or anyone interested in the raw intersection between history, nature, and urban decay. If you’re expecting manicured paths and tidy gravestones, some areas may feel too wild — but for many, that’s part of the cathartic beauty.
What you should know before going: Bring a map (the grounds are vast), wear sturdy shoes (some areas have uneven ground, roots, or debris), and respect the site’s fragility. Avoid touching or leaning on monuments. Treat the cemetery as sacred ground rather than an “adventure ruin.”
Visiting Mount Moriah Cemetery is like stepping into a part of Philadelphia most people don’t see — a liminal space between memory and oblivion, civilization and wilderness.
Mount Moriah Cemetery
📍 Southwest Philadelphia & Yeadon, PA (spanning Cobbs Creek Parkway)
Website: Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery
