Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery – Jersey City, New Jersey - Atlas Obscura
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Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery

Jersey City, New Jersey

Filled with history, this cemetery is maintained each summer by a few hungry goats.  

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Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery jedhakuro (Creative Commons)
Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery jedhakuro (Creative Commons)
Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery bg132792 (Atlas Obscura User)
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One of the first garden-style cemeteries in the country, the Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in New Jersey still in use. 

Before the cemetery was created, the site was the location of several Revolutionary War skirmishes and houses a few bunkers that still exist today constructed during the War of 1812. Various underground crypts located around the cemetery were used as shelters for slaves traveling to freedom along the Underground Railroad.

Despite the historical relevance of the cemetery, it fell into disrepair and neglect. In 2008, a Board of Trustees was established to help restore the cemetery to its former glory and protect it for future generations. Every summer, goats are used to control the cemetery’s invasive weed population. 

war cemeteries military history
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Anna Minster
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Anna Minster
Published
January 8, 2020
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Nearby
Fairmount Apartments
0.95 miles
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1.32 miles
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