Sleepy Hollow Cemetery (Concord, MA)

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord, Massachusetts is one of the most beautiful and historic cemeteries in New England. Amidst its ancient trees and rolling hills are countless souls that include Concord natives and Civil War veterans; however, the cemetery is best known for “Author’s Ridge,” where some of America’s most iconic authors and poets are laid to rest. For some, visiting Author’s Ridge is a pilgrimage to shake a bad case of writer’s block or simply to honor some of America’s brightest minds.

History

Concord’s Sleepy Hollow Cemetery was designed in the 1850s to serve as the final resting place for the people of Concord and was built a mere block away from the center of town. The cemetery was officially dedicated on September 29, 1855 and author Ralph Waldo Emerson gave an “Address to the Inhabitants of Concord at the Consecration of Sleepy Hollow.”

“When these acorns, that are falling at our feet, are oaks overshadowing our children in a remote century, this mute green bank will be full of history: the good, the wise, and the great will have left their names and virtues on the trees… will have made the air tuneable and articulate.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson in his dedication speech for Sleepy Hollow Cemetery (September 29, 1855)

Throughout the 1800s, a number of well-known American authors and poets would be laid to rest at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. These writers all lived in Concord at one point or another and each had a connection to the other in some way. Today, those writers all lie to rest in an area known as “Author’s Ridge.”

It is not uncommon for writers, poets, and thinkers of today to visit Author’s Ridge in an attempt to get over writer’s block (a lapse in creativity). As a tribute, people often place pencils, pens, and hand-written poems on or near the headstones. It is difficult to blame them- the cemetery possesses an almost mystic quality and is a great place to walk, reflect, and think about life. I believe that is something that these famous authors and thinkers would find very appropriate.

Interesting Facts

• Ralph Waldo Emerson gave an “Address to the Inhabitants of Concord at the Consecration of Sleepy Hollow, 29 September, 1855.” He would later be buried in the cemetery in 1882
• Nathaniel Hawthorne’s ancestor, John Hathorne, was a judge during the 1692 Salem Witch Trials (and was the only judge not to repent his involvement)
• Many families were buried together on family plots in the 18th and early 19th centuries (this includes the four authors). Interestingly, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery still allows burials in the newer portion of the cemetery
• Other notable burials include: William Ellery Channing (poet), Daniel Chester French (sculptor of the Concord Bridge Minuteman statue and the Lincoln Memorial), and Ephraim Wales Bull (creator of the Concord Grape).

Notable Burials

Visiting Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is fairly easy, especially if you are already exploring historic Concord, MA. The entrance to the cemetery is located on Bedford Street, but be cautious as you enter and drive throughout the cemetery due to small and uneven roads. Author’s Ridge is located towards the back of the cemetery and can be found by following the stone markers throughout the cemetery (or place “Author’s Ridge” in your phone GPS). It is but a short walk up the steps before you reach the gravesites of Thoreau, Hawthorne, Alcott, and Emerson. As you walk up the steps and down the winding path, be sure to admire the natural beauty of the cemetery along with the unique gravestone artwork. Conveniently, all four authors are buried relatively close to one another along the ridge, so you can easily find and visit all of them.

Once you arrive to the base of Author’s Ridge (towards the back of the cemetery), you should see the stone sign below. There is not a dedicated parking lot, but we recommend backing into the small paved area near the ridge- just be respectful of other visitors and the cemetery itself. Depending on the time of year, Author’s Ridge can get fairly busy and the paved area only supports 2-3 vehicles- so you may need to be patient or come back.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (May 25, 1803 – April 27, 1882)

• Born in Boston, MA
• Essayist, Lecturer, Philosopher, and Poet who was a leader in the Transcendentalist movement
• Emerson staunchly opposed slavery, wrote against the Fugitive Slave Act, and spoke out against the “peculiar institution” throughout the Civil War
• He was known as the “Sage of Concord”

Nathaniel Hawthorne (July 4, 1804 – May 19, 1864)

• Born in Salem, MA
• Novelist
• Died in his sleep in Plymouth, New Hampshire while on a trip through the White Mountains
• Known for dark romanticism in his writing, Hawthorne is most known for his works The Scarlet Letter (1850) and The House of Seven Gables (1851)

Henry David Thoreau (July 12, 1817 – May 6, 1862)

• Born in Concord, MA
• Naturalist, Philosopher, Essayist, and Poet who was also a leading Transcendentalist
• Similar to his mentor Ralph Waldo Emerson, Thoreau was an abolitionist and abhorred slavery
• Best known for his works Civil Disobedience (1849) and Walden (1854)

Louisa May Alcott (November 29, 1832 – March 6, 1888)

• Born in Germantown, PA
• Novelist
• An abolitionist and feminist who never married throughout her life
• Best known for her work Little Women (1868), which was set in the Alcott family home (Orchard House) in Concord, MA