LANCASTER, Pa. – LancasterHistory, in collaboration with The Friends of the Tanger Arboretum and St. James Episcopal Church, is excited to announce a special edition of our Regional History Colloquium on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. We are thrilled to welcome Kate Benisek, a landscape architect and professor at Temple University, along with Jennifer O’Donnell, the current President of the Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Together, they will shed light on the intriguing history of Mount Moriah Cemetery – once a grand rural cemetery spanning nearly 200 acres in Southwest Philadelphia and Yeadon Borough. They will take attendees on a journey through time, uncovering how this significant landmark went from being a proud and inclusive resting place for Philadelphia's diverse communities to an abandoned and overlooked entity.

Fortunately, the tale doesn't end in despair. In early 2011, thanks to the determined efforts of The Friends of Mount Moriah, Inc., the cemetery began its transformation into a certified arboretum, showcasing a unique blend of ecological restoration, educational programming, and community events.