Next weekend, The Ghostly Circus presented by 7textures will enliven Laurel Hill Cemetery with its dynamic, not-to-be-missed fire & aerial theater. This unique, other-worldly show will include fire dancing, aerial performers, theatrical side-show, live music, and a dance after-party! Tickets are $30 in advance and $40 at the door. Will we see you there?
Purchase Tickets >>
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In the Spotlight
A Perfect Fit After 30 Years!
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If you’ve been on a tour of Laurel Hill Cemetery, chances are you have visited the statue grouping of the Warner family in Section J Lot 74 and 76. It is frequently visited on tours to demonstrate how severe weather affects marble and not granite (see picture below).
The granite angel on the right was carved by Alexander Milne Calder, who, with help from his son, sculpted over 250 statues on Philadelphia’s City Hall, including the massive 37-foot tall William Penn on the very top. (Alexander Calder and his son Stirling are buried in our sister cemetery, West Laurel Hill.) It is shown lifting the lid of a sarcophagus, allowing the soul of William Warner to escape. But… its arms are missing!
 
Several weeks ago Laurel Hill was contacted by a man who said he had a stone hand to return to the cemetery. He said a friend of his picked up the hand while in the cemetery in the 1980s and had it on display in his home until his recent passing. He wanted to see it returned to us. It’s not every day you get a hand in the mail! We opened it, not knowing what statue it belonged to or if we would ever know (some statues are so high off the ground it is hard to reach them). The day after receiving the package, Archives and Volunteer Coordinator, Beth Savastana, and Volunteer, John McDonald were joking, “Wouldn’t it be amazing if this was one of Warner’s arms?” John took the two pieces to the site and it was a perfect fit! The arm and hand (minus the pointing finger), of Alexander Milne Calder’s statue has returned to us after more than 30 years. Monument Preservation Specialist and Friend of Laurel Hill Cemetery, Thomas Gavigan will adhere and secure the arm back into place. But a question remains… where is the other arm?
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All Bones Considered
Laurel Hill's History Podcast
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The fourth installment of All Bones Considered podcast is now available. Dr. Joe Lex, one of Laurel's Hill's most active guests as well as the host of Dr. Joe's Grooves (which airs on PhilyCAM.org Tuesdays from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm) is the creator and narrator of the podcast. Check out the fourth installment entitled Holidays Among the Stones.
Listen Here >>
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The William James Mullen monument (Section 7, Lot 39) recently underwent preservation. The before and after pictures below show the wonderful improvements!
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Upcoming Tours and Programs
From a Hearse Show and Fire Dancers to Beetlejuice and Brew Masters!
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The Hot Spots & Storied Plots
August 9, 10, 16, 23 & 30 at 10:00 AM, $12
This tour series provides an informative overview of Laurel Hill’s long and colorful history, which includes many of the marble masterpieces, stunning views and legendary stories that afford the cemetery its WOW factor.
Read More >>
The Ghostly Circus
Friday, August 9 & Saturday, August 10 at 8:00 PM, $15-40
For its 6th year, The Ghostly Circus presented by 7Textures will enliven Laurel Hill Cemetery with site-specific fire and aerial theater. This unique, other-worldly show will include: fire dancing, aerial performers, theatrical side-show, live music, and more surprises, with a Dance with the Dead After-Party amid the tombs. This year’s story is Tides of the Climates. Read More >>
Lead, Follow or Get out of the Way: Famous Civil War Generals
Sunday, August 11 at 10:00 AM, $15
Leadership in war has had a profound effect on individual battles on all sides of the conflict, thus heavily influencing the final outcome of the conflict. Approximately 50 Generals and countless officers and enlisted men who played an important role in war are now laid to rest in the ‘Valhalla of Philadelphia’ that is Historic Laurel Hill. Read More >>
Come on Feel the Love Happy Hour
Thursday, August 15 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, FREE
Come on FEEL THE LOVE at The Trestle Inn is a weekly Happy Hour benefiting Philadelphia’s non-profit community. This event will benefit Laurel Hill Cemetery on August 15th! Featuring Feel the Love IPA brewed exclusively for The Trestle by Love City Brewing, Happy Hour Specials and 20% of all Feel The Love Happy Hour sales will be donated to Laurel Hill Cemetery!
RSVP >
Master Din's Sinister Sextet Book Reading & Reception
Friday, August 16 at 6:00 PM, $20
Don't miss the Book Release Fete for “Master Din’s Sinister Sextet Grim and Grave Admonitions for Mischievous and Overly Curious Children” penned by Susurrus Din and otherworldly illustrations by Paul Romano, Jeremy Hush and Dylan Garrett-Smith. Read More >>
Cinema in the Cemetery: Beetlejuice
Wednesday, August 21 at 8:30 PM, $12
Pack a picnic, gather some friends or a date, and enjoy an evening under the stars. As the sun sets over Laurel Hill’s historic tombs, the grainy joys of the film experience will be brought to life during the cemetery’s annual summertime movie series. August’s feature film, Beetlejuice directed by Tim Burton will be presented in conjunction with the Philadelphia Film Society. Read More >>
Pints and Plots: The Brew Masters for Laurel Hill and West Laurel Hill Cemeteries
Saturday, August 24 at 1:00 PM, $40
Philadelphia is known as one of the best beer-drinking cities in the country and earned this reputation for many reasons. Join us on August 24th from 1:00 to 4:00 pm as we tour some of the notable beer barons who left their mark on the beer industry, and Philadelphia! Read More >>
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Want to be a Cemetery Superstar?
Give back! There are several ways you can...
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If you like what we're doing and wish to support our continued success, you can make a fully tax-deductible contribution to our Annual Fund.
Why should you support the Friends of Laurel Hill & West Laurel Hill Cemeteries? Your gift to the Friends’ 2019 Annual Fund for the cemeteries will make a true difference. Your support will render possible another monumental year of growth and progress. Major projects undertaken in the last several years include the restoration of the Medallion Gardens, the opening of a pedestrian entrance at Kelly Drive, and the launch of a new downloadable mobile app. The Friends continue to look to the future and plan to restore more of the site’s landscape and monuments to their original grandeur - and light them! Because of your support, the beauty of this site can be enjoyed at no cost, day and night!
Make a Donation >>
Join The Friends so that we can continue to offer unique and innovative programs that can't be found elsewhere. Enjoy the many benefits of membership while helping to carry out our mission to preserve, protect, and promote this beautiful National Historic Landmark. Annual memberships start at just $25. Become a Member >>
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