Harmony Grove
NATURE. HISTORY. SERENITY.
Harmony Grove Cemetery is a nonprofit cemetery and crematory organization devoted to maintaining its grounds in perpetuity. Now spanning nearly 57 acres, Harmony Grove remains a serene and historically rich resting place, honoring Salem’s past while serving future generations with care and dignity.
History
Founded in 1840, Harmony Grove Cemetery was created to meet Salem’s growing need for burial space and to reflect the 19th-century rural cemetery movement. Proposed by Col. Francis F. Peabody and designed by Alexander Wadsworth (of Mount Auburn Cemetery fame), the grounds were selected for their natural beauty with rocky cliffs, wooded knolls, and shaded groves once known locally as “Harmony Grove.”
Burial Grounds
Harmony Grove Cemetery features winding paths, historic monuments, and over 1,000 trees in a park-like setting. Its design blends the scenic, natural style of the older Rural Cemetery tradition with the more straightforward layout of later Lawn Cemeteries. Highlights include a dramatic 40-foot rock outcrop with hillside mausoleums and sweeping views, terraced family plots on the upper hills, and tranquil valleys that feel immersed in nature.
Historic Buildings
The main entrance on Grove Street features ornamental wrought-iron gates and stone columns that frame a view of the Blake Memorial Chapel and its adjoining buildings. Nearby stand the Gothic Revival caretaker’s house (1839) and a historic barn (1892), together forming the heart of Harmony Grove’s historic architecture.
Notable Residents
“Harmony Grove Cemetery offers a unique prism through which to view Salem from the mid-nineteenth century to the present,” noted local historian Jim McAllister. From the celebrated to the unsung, from artists to civic leaders, from businesspersons to leather workers, Harmony Grove Cemetery is the final resting place of over 20,000 residents from just about all walks of life.
Harmony Grove is a peaceful historic landscape designed for reflection, remembrance, and appreciation of nature.
Visitors are welcome to walk our winding paths, explore the art and history of our monuments, and enjoy the peace of this rural setting. We ask that everyone who visits show consideration for those who rest here and for families visiting loved ones. Please check our Visitor Tips and Guidelines page before your visit to help us preserve the character and tranquility of this special place.
Whether you come to honor a memory, learn about our history, or simply find a quiet moment in nature, we invite you to experience the lasting calm and heritage our grounds provide.
Cremation, Burial and Chapel Services
We offer a full range of compassionate and professional burial and cremation services as well as chapel rentals for funerals, memorials and wedding ceremonies.
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Harmony Grove Cemetery
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