Historic Albany Rural Cemetery: Angels Under Blue Skies
I know it might sound a little odd that we visited a cemetery for an afternoon outing, but if you know anything about the rural cemetery movement in the 19th century, then you know that some cemeteries look and feel like parks.
Planners purposely designed them to draw visitors. Graveyards became destination sites, filled with water features, gardens, and forested areas. Albany Rural Cemetery, built in 1841, is no exception.
I have to tell you, I took these photos on my husband’s iPhone 5. Upon arriving at the cemetery, I discovered that the batteries of both my Canon Rebel and iPhone 5s were dead. Sigh. While the photos would definitely have been better on my Canon, I was not completely disappointed with my husband’s phone. What do you think?
The theme for the day: guardian angels. Some with blue sky backdrops, others with show-stopping leaf canopies.
Erastus Dow Palmer, a well-known Albany sculptor from this period created this masterpiece.
Several NYS governors and city mayors have made Albany Rural Cemetery their final resting place. Erastus Corning, founder of the New York Central Railway in the mid-1800s–the largest corporation in America at the time–is buried here along with many other family members. His great-grandson, Erastus Corning the 2nd would, as mayor of Albany for forty-two years, be an integral part of one of the longest lasting political machines in the country. Very interesting story in the Albany Times Union about the family plot (the largest in the cemetery).
Love the classical shapes, like this urn.
Times Union article by Paul Grondahl
These Exalted Acres by Paul Grondahl
Bye for now,
Beautiful and historic — and a gorgeous day, too. We have a number of old family cemeteries scattered throughout our county, some meticulously maintained and some overgrown. Our next-door neighbors (actually a number of acres away from us!) live on her family's old land; there are two cemeteries. One was exclusively for the slaves. There aren't many actual stones there. The other was for the white folks. So interesting.
I have always been fascinated by cemeteries and this one looks fascinating. Have you ever been to Zpere Lachaise in Paris
Great photos! Especially liked the clasps of part of the statue and gorgeous background behind it.
I'm a regular visitor to Albany Rural Cemetery; sometimes to research and explore, sometimes just to walk and wander. And I love it when new people visit and appreciate it. Enjoyable read!
My husband and I spent the day at Antietam battlefield earlier this week and I actually like going to the cemetery and looking at the gravestones from 100+ years ago.
Thanks for sharing this and the statues are beautiful. You got some really good pictures.
What a coincidence! While we were on our trip north, we 'visited' my mother's ancestors in Rochester cemeteries, one of which was dedicated in 1838 (Mt. Hope) – fascinating, and beautiful! Yes, I like the hunky angel (actually, have never seen one in a male likeness such as that one's clothed). The expense of some these grave memorials has got to be enormous, even back in the day. Nice post, and yes, great pictures with his phone!
The "hunky angel" is one of my favorite works of art ever. It's Erastus Dow Palmer's "Angel At The Sepulchre." The Albany Institute of History and Art has the original plaster cast of the Angel as the centerpiece of the sculpture gallery and it shows how marvelously detailed the statue was before exposure to a century and a half of wind and rain. Even with the weathering, it's still such a majestic work.
Love visiting old cemeteries, the textures on the stone work is always amazing, the history, and its always so peaceful and quiet a great place for reflection, and photography!
I love walking through old cemeteries – the old headstones are awesome and they are such works of art. And the history is amazing.
I'm so glad that you shared the photos on the old cemetery, when I in the Boston area a few years ago I checked out several unkept cemeteries, they were so interesting, so full of history. XX Jo
I had to laugh about your "hunky" angel Diana! What a beautiful cemetery. I do love to look at the old inscriptions, especially if there is a verse or descriptions of the deceased. The angels are beautiful.
Diana, once again your photos are stunning! A few years ago I had the opportunity to visit Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, that was featured in the movie "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil". I couldn't get over how beautiful it was and I took LOTS of angel photos!
I actually love visiting cemeteries! There's a peace there that you can feel nowhere else. This one is amazing with all of the gorgeous statues. I think the photos turned out just fabulous! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Those angels are just beautiful! Love the blue and the verdigris. I had my first experience in a beautiful cemetery in Naples, NY, right in town. It has wrought iron fences with grapes on them and beautiful statutes. It was quite interesting. We just happened on it and still is a nice memory!
My kids always thought it was so weird that I liked to visit old cemeteries when we traveled. Now that they are adults I think they see the beauty in it. Your photographs are lovely.
This us a gorgeous scenery. Thanks for sharing this at The Southern Special.
Diana, you’re a woman after my own heart! I love visiting old cementeries….from the abandoned ones to the well-kept. Your photos are beautiful!