History of the HBGI

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The Historic Burying Grounds Initiative is an effort of the Boston Parks and Recreation Department to restore the City's historic cemeteries. Combining public and private funding, community support, advocacy, and public education, the Initiative is the largest cemetery restoration program undertaken by a municipality in the United States.

The Initiative grew out of an awareness voiced in the mid-1970s by several Boston preservation agencies that the effects of age, environment and deferred maintenance posed an imminent threat of loss to the City's historic burying grounds and thus to the heritage of the City, New England and the nation. Acknowledging the historical and artistic importance of these sites in Boston's landscape, the Parks Department, the Boston Landmarks Commission, and the Bostonian Society began a collaborative effort to inventory over 15,000 markers and assemble a master plan addressing structural, landscape, and masonry conservation measures in the historic cemeteries. The original HGBI master plan, completed in 1985, guided capital improvements, private fundraising and partnerships up until the creation of a new master plan in 1998. During the first period activities primarily focused on protection, stabilization, preservation, and restoration of historic artifacts, tomb structures, and retaining walls. These efforts have prevented significant deterioration of these valuable resources and reduced risk to visitors. HGBI invested approximately $3,636,000 in improvements before the establishment of the new master plan The new plan updates and expands on the initial plan, concentrating on what goals have been achieved, what objectives remain to be accomplished, and new directions that HGBI should pursue. Approximately $400,000 of improvements have been made since the publication of this new document.

Read more about our projects and funding.