A Walk Through The Historic Albany Rural Cemetery

Sprawled across 467 acres, just outside Albany NY, in Menands, over 135,000 people are laid to rest. From regular folks to dignitaries, this historic treasure is the eternal home of Chester Arthur, the 21st president of the United States, 34 members of Congress, eight Cabinet members, five New York governors, 55 mayors of Albany, as well as many artists, architects, sculptors, writers and business people.  It's not the VIP's that draw me to this resting place as much as the incredible landscape dotted with the most amazing collection of gravestones and markers I've yet to find anywhere but at the Albany Rural Cemetery.

A lamb represents innocence and often marks the grave of a child.

I'm not even a 'cemetery person'....I mean, I've always hated the idea of being laid to rest, underground, decaying for eternity.  It wasn't until the past decade or so that I began to view these sacred resting places differently - at least as far as other people being laid to rest.  This newfound interest in cemeteries surfaced when we found John's third great grandfather, an Irish immigrant, Civil War hero, buried at St. Agnes Cemetery in Menands.  We spent hours over many days exploring there and eventually moved next door to the Albany Rural Cemetery, another treasure trove of interesting monuments of the long ago departed.

A bird in flight represents 'rebirth'

Albany Rural Cemetery was incorporated in 1841.  The first internment took place in 1845.  I first wrote about Albany Rural back in 2019.  That post, City of Souls Find Eternal Rest in Albany Rural Cemetery contains plenty of historical details about the cemetery and photos of some of the more magnificant monuments.  This post focuses more on the smaller, more modest stones - many folks whose lives were cut short, some stones worn to the point that inscriptions are illegible.  I'm always amazed at some of the intricate details on these stones, carved in the 1800's, some elaborate and some with modest simplicity.

Died at Gettysburg from wounds he received in battle at 22 yrs of age.

Evelyn died in 1861 at 27 years.

One thing that is difficult to overlook is the fact that so many children lives were cut short back in those days, their graves often marked with beautifully carved stones.  It's not just children .... many like Evelyn above, only lived into their 20's.

Mary & Jennie - died age 26 and 29

James Reed - 1881-1882

 

Albany Journalist, Paul Grondahl, wrote a fascinating book, These Exalted Acres -Unlocking the Secrets of Albany Rural Cemetery, available on Amazon.  The book details the cemetery history as well as biographies of 25 of the notable people and monuments in the cemetery. With its maze of winding roads, majestic ancient trees (many that are tagged for identification), a scenic pond and breathtaking masoleums, Albany Rural Cemetery is a sight to behold - over and over again.  Be warned...it's easy to get lost in it, so have a map or gps to find your way around.

In previous years, the massive cemetery had become a little unkept as seen in some of these photos.  This year a new GM has come on board and I'm happy to report that at least 80% of the cemetery looks much improved.  Sadly there are still corners in the outer edges of the cemetery that are still in desperate need of trimming.  It would be a great project for corporations who engage employees in volunteer services to take on.  I'd love to one day see all the gravestones visible and free of entanglement of bushes and vines and tall grasses engulfing the stones, graves of those who have no one to look after them today.

If you live in the 518, I urge you to take a drive to Menands to explore this historic landmark and pay tribute to the many who make up our local history.  The cemetery has an entrance off Rt. 378, Menands Rd. and also off of Broadway in Menands at the end of Cemetery Ave. just past St. Agnes Cemetery.  

Thank you to the new administration for overseeing the improvements this year and to the staff who have so tirelessly brought the cemetery back to its glory. For more information: 

https://www.facebook.com/albanyruralcemetery

https://albanyruralcemetery.org/