Preservation & Stewardship
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Preservation
At Mount Auburn Cemetery, preservation efforts play a crucial role in maintaining the historical and cultural significance of this cherished landmark. As the first rural and landscaped cemetery in the United States, it stands as a testament to the past and an inspiration for the future.
Through ongoing preservation efforts, Mount Auburn continues to honor its rich built history by providing a timeless space to connect with the past. The safeguarding of this cultural treasure ensures that the Cemetery's legacy will endure for generations to come.
Our Preservation Initiatives Include:
Monument Preservation
The cemetery houses an array of historical monuments and sculptures that have withstood the test of time. Preservation efforts involve meticulous restoration work to maintain and repair these artworks, slowing the effects of aging and gravity so that they continue to stand as enduring symbols of remembrance and artistic achievement.
Cast Iron Fence Preservation
Mount Auburn’s cast iron fences carry historical value, reflecting the architectural and design styles of their time. At one point the cemetery’s landscape was dominated by hundreds of cast iron fences. As tastes change, the need for iron and their upkeep became overwhelming, many were removed. Currently, Mount Auburn has assumed responsibility of maintaining, repairing and preserving the five dozen remaining fences.
Architectural Conservation
As a repository of architectural styles spanning almost 200 years, Mount Auburn Cemetery showcases a rich tapestry of design. Preservation efforts focus on conserving the various structures, including dozens of mausolea, Bigelow Chapel, Story Chapel, Washington Tower and the Egyptian Revival Gateway, which stand as architectural gems within the grounds.
Surveying and Information Gathering
Surveying monuments for condition and safety is an important task that requires careful planning, expertise and adherence to established guidelines. This involves assessing the stability, deterioration and potential risks associated with historic monuments that ensure their preservation and the safety of visitors.
Environmental Stewardship
Over three decades, Mount Auburn has secured cleaner energy sources, established a sustainable grounds maintenance plan, and introduced greener burial and cremation services. Now, the Cemetery is working towards its most ambitious goal: carbon-neutrality by 2050.
Our current Sustainability Initiatives include:
Plant Biodiversity
Efforts to increase plant biodiversity throughout Mount Auburn’s 175 acres began in the 1990s. Now, diversifying the Cemetery’s plant collections is an essential strategy to preserve our landscape’s health and increase its resiliency in the face of climate change.
Greening Our Turf Care
The Cemetery has drastically reduced the environmental impacts of its turf and landscape maintenance practices by modifying mowing cycles, addressing soil health, introducing low-maintenance turf alternatives, and investing in more sustainable equipment.
Environmentally Friendly Tributes
To better protect our landscape and our wildlife, only natural tributes may be left on our grounds.
Rain & Mulch
To reuse our natural resources wisely, Mount Auburn recycles both trees and rain. Our tree trimming and pruning is turned into mulch to help retain moisture in the soil and prevent invasive growth. Beneath our greenhouse is a massive cistern for collecting rain water. The water is utilized both in our greenhouse and throughout the grounds. In our growing effort to become carbon neutral, Mount Auburn does not utilize town or city water supplies from Cambridge or Watertown.
Our Canopy
Each year our staff gathers to celebrate Arbor Day, however tree planting is an ongoing endeavor at Mount Auburn. In fact, Mount Auburn’s canopy makes up more than 30% of Watertown’s green space by acreage and is in the top ten green spaces for canopy by acreage in both Cambridge and Watertown.
Environmentally Friendly Vehicles and Tools
Maintaining our dynamic landscape and active Cemetery takes quite a great deal of machinery. As our equipment upgrades and additions happen, Mount Auburn is making every effort to purchase environmentally responsible electric vehicles and power tools. Moving from diesel or gas powered equipment to electric also reduces noise pollution as well.
