Mt. Rainier and Lenticular Clouds - Dec. 2008 copyright: JMM

July 15, 2015

Oldest Maintained Cemetery in America

Duxbury has always been just an exit off Rte 3, just north of Plymouth.  But I was going to be in the area so I looked up what there is to do and see there.  

The first place I visited is the oldest maintained cemetery in the country.  Pilgrim forefathers Myles Standish and John Alden are interred here which came as a surprise.  I assumed they were buried in Plymouth on Burial Hill.  







John & Priscilla Alden's graves.


These old stones are so awesome.  It's too bad gravestone rubbing is illegal here.


Compared to Europe this is still a very young country.  But this is one of the oldest settlements in the USA.





Just up the road was the Myles Standish Monument.  The gate was closed so I parked down at the bottom and hiked up the hill to see what was up there. 

It was a very peaceful walk.


Finally reached the top of the hill to see this huge column.  How did I never know these places existed? 

The six New England states





View of the water from the road.



Duxbury:  Who knew?

12 comments:

  1. Interesting spot. Old cemeteries can be fascinating. Beaufort, NC claims a very old cemetery too and they have a soldier buried standing at attention. We used to love visiting Beaufort, NC. That tower is fascinating, bricked up door? I always wonder why and what's behind them. In the UK you see bricked up windows in some old houses, they did it to save on taxes.

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    1. One of my friends told me that you can go to the top but I think I would probably die from the walk up all those stairs. At least I assume there are stairs. And with it being a column, I would also guess that it's a spiral staircase.

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    2. Yes, I once tried climbing the Hatteras lighthouse and got up two storeys. Hubby and friend plus friends kids made it to the top but not the wives. The other wife didn't even try. There was a great view from the level I did get to mind you.

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    3. I did manage the spiral staircase and ladder into Highland Light in Truro but that was about the upper limit of my ability. I would love to go to the top of Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown but even when I was young and in good shape that was a tough climb.

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    4. I totally think there are bodies behind that bricked up door. Lots and lots of bodies.

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    5. LOL I think it was a bricked up window as it didn't go all the way to the ground. Cathy, maybe the start of a new story?

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  2. A couple things: were you up there all by yourself? I'd be a tad creeped out, coming across that huge tower all by myself in a forest - especially after those skull tombstones. Trés cool!!! Now why wouldn't they allow gravestone rubbing? You wouldn't think it would hurt the stones, would it?

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    1. Yes I was there by myself and no it didn't creep me out at all, although I'm sure Russell was not too happy about it; he hates it that I do all this stuff alone. The tombstones don't bother me at all...I'm from here so I've been seeing them my whole life. They are very fragile and can easily chip or break if a person isn't doing the rubbing correctly. I have all the proper papers,I know the correct tape to use and have special wax that's used that won't hurt the stones, but people go in there with the wrong things like charcoal or pens/pencils, duct taping construction paper to them and it causes a lot of damage.

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  3. While these sites are fascinating, you have a knack for making the most basic/simple of things appear fascinating. I really like the photo of the leaves and shadows (before the tower), for example.

    Be well, JoJo.

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    1. Thank you Robyn! I actually live in a pretty fascinating area, and have found that there are a lot of cool hidden things to see if you are willing to ferret them out. Most people just drive on by or through these towns, like I used to do. Just some exit off the highway. Then you start exploring.

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  4. Anonymous8:59 AM

    LOVE THIS JoJo! Zedekiah Sanger is our relative! :D This is where my mom's family was thick, well before heading over from England. My mom's family is so red, white and blue and royal I should be living in the White House or Kensington Palace! This is great. My mom would've been thrilled to see this.

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    1. NO WAY! I had no idea!!! That's wicked cool Mimi! You will have to come out here someday and see these places for yourself. Didn't know you could trace your lineage to our founding fathers and Massachusetts!

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