Business Details
Grove Street Cemetery: America's First Planned Burial Ground
Established in 1796, Grove Street Cemetery is recognized as the oldest planned burial ground in the United States and a designated National Historic Landmark. Our cemetery provides dignified interment options, including full-body burials and cremains placement, while preserving the historical legacy of New Haven, Connecticut. With over two centuries of service, we combine tradition with modern accessibility, offering guided tours, educational programs, and community events that highlight our role as a 'City of the Dead, City of the Living.' Our dedicated staff collaborates with families and funeral directors to ensure seamless burial arrangements, while our horticultural and archival initiatives support ongoing preservation efforts. As stewards of this historic site, we maintain meticulously landscaped grounds and provide resources for genealogical research, historical discovery, and cultural enrichment. 
Services
Burial arrangements
Plot purchases
Historical tours
Educational programs
Cremains interment
Highlights and features
- We operate America's oldest planned cemetery, established in 1796.
- Our staff collaborates with funeral directors for seamless burial arrangements.
- We offer educational programs and historical resources for public engagement.
- Our grounds feature unique horticultural collections and architectural monuments.
- We maintain strict preservation standards for historical and cultural integrity.
Associations and certifications
- National Historic Landmark
Services
Burial arrangements
We coordinate full-body burials and cremains placement for families who own plots. Our staff works with funeral directors to ensure proper procedures and documentation. Services include plot selection guidance and monument installation assistance.
Plot purchases
Available for purchase during office hours, our plots accommodate full-body internments or cremains. We provide pricing details and documentation for single gravesites or half plots with clear guidelines for future interments.
Historical tours
Daily tours explore our National Historic Landmark grounds, highlighting notable burials like Amistad figures and Civil War veterans. Visitors learn about 18th-century burial practices and architectural evolution through self-guided maps and scheduled programs.
Educational programs
We host lectures on cemetery history, monument artistry, and genealogical research. Programs feature experts in horticulture, geology, and visual arts, connecting historical context with modern preservation efforts.
Cremains interment
Our cemetery accommodates cremains placement in designated plots. Families receive guidance on regulations for urns, markers, and memorialization options while maintaining our historic grounds' integrity.
Questions
What makes Grove Street Cemetery historically significant?
Established in 1796, we're America's first planned cemetery with family lots and named avenues, designated a National Historic Landmark in 1997.
How do I arrange a burial here?
Plot owners should contact our office to coordinate with funeral directors. We provide procedural guidance and staff support for burial arrangements.
Are tours available for visitors?
Yes, daily tours operate 9 AM to 4 PM with self-guided maps and scheduled programs exploring our historical significance and notable residents.
What are your visiting hours?
Our gates open daily 9 AM to 4 PM, with last entry at 3:30 PM for staff patrols before closing.
How can I support preservation efforts?
Join Friends of the Grove Street Cemetery through memberships, donations, or volunteering for grounds maintenance and archival projects.
