Preservation in Progress: The Gateway Welcome Center

The Egyptian Revival Gateway—first constructed in wood in 1832 before being rebuilt with Quincy granite ten years later—was designed to welcome visitors into the Cemetery to orient them to a new type of American public landscape. The unique and symbolic design of the Gateway was the first true iconic image of Mount Auburn. Over the years, features were added to the structure to accommodate visitor needs, including granite roofs over the alcoves on either side of the original central gate to shelter visitors. Eventually, automotive gates were added in the cast iron fence on either side of the structure in 1913 to allow cars to the Cemetery for the first time. As with all stone features in our landscape, exposure to the elements over time has caused degradation especially to the mortar which requires occasional repointing.

Prior to the current initiative, in 2016 Mount Auburn was awarded grants from the Cambridge Historical Commission and private foundations to preserve the Gateway by cleaning, cutting, and repointing the masonry, and recaulking all sealant joints.

However, ongoing mortar deterioration over the subsequent decade, especially on the north side of the building, prompted a closer look at the original details of the granite construction.  Certain details at the perimeter of the granite roofs such as the slope of the cornice stones and lack of a proper drip edge were not promoting the proper drainage of water off the structure, resulting in walls that were saturated with water, especially during winter months. 

Two additional measures currently underway are being taken to encourage the proper shedding of water off the structure and significantly decrease the rate of mortar loss. First, the masonry contractor has cut a slot along the underside of all of the cornices, which will cause rainwater to drip off the building’s edge instead of running down the walls. Second, the top of the cornice stones that support the roof slabs of the alcoves have been altered to create positive drainage off the roof and walls. This will reduce the pooling of rainwater on top of the cornices, and the resulting leaking of water into the alcoves.

Though the alterations to the granite will mitigate the effects of water damage, it is also essential to ensure the new mortar is able to withstand the moisture it does face. To this end, the contractor is repointing the Gateway with a modified mortar with better adhesion and applying a breathable water repellant to exclude rainwater but allow water vapor to evaporate out of the joint.

This newly preserved structure will be open to the public this summer when the Welcome Center—including an information desk and, for the first time, a permanent gift shop in the gatehouses—will provide a refreshed entry experience to the 200,000 visitors that come to Mount Auburn each year.

Thank you to our donors for making this essential project possible!

Project Partners

Preservation architect: Foster Architecture

Masonry contractor: TWC Phoenix