Christ Church Burial Ground
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Arch St. btwn. 4th and 5th Sts.
www.christchurchphila.org
HOURS: Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. noon–4 p.m. Mar.–Nov.; Sun.–Fri. noon–4 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Dec., weather permitting; closed Jan. and Feb.
COST: $2 adult, $1 student, $10 for groups up to 25
In 1790, Ben Franklin’s funeral was attended by more than 20,000 people. Here he rests, alongside his wife and young son and more than 5,000 other early Philadelphians.
In 1719, the overcrowded grounds of Christ Church a few blocks away could no longer fit more bodies, so this plot was purchased on the “outskirts of town” to accommodate its members.
The historic site was closed to the public for 25 years, but it reopened in 2003 after an intensive renovation. More than 1,400 markers remain, but many are so old and worn down that the names are no longer visible.
During a tour you’ll learn about the prominent figures and ordinary folks who were buried here. While 80 percent of the burials took place before 1840, the most recent was in 1994. Some think it’s good luck to throw a penny on Ben’s gravestone.
© Karrie Gavin from Moon Philadelphia, 1st Edition
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