Swan Point Cemetery is a historic

rural cemetery A rural cemetery or garden cemetery is a style of cemetery that became popular in the United States and Europe in the mid-nineteenth century due to the overcrowding and health concerns of urban cemeteries. They were typically built one to five ...

located in

Providence, Rhode Island Providence is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. One of the oldest cities in New England, it was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Reformed Baptist theologian and religious exile from the Massachusetts Bay ...

, United States. Established in 1846 on a 60-acre (0.24 km²) plot of land, it has approximately 40,000 interments.

History

The cemetery was first organized under the Swan Point Cemetery Company, with a board of trustees. In 1858, a new charter was developed to make the cemetery administration non-profit, and it was taken over by a group known as the Proprietors of Swan Point Cemetery. In 1886, landscape architect H.W.S. Cleveland was hired to redesign the area. It is a cemetery park with its design inspired by the landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted's

Mount Auburn Cemetery Mount Auburn Cemetery is the first rural cemetery, rural, or garden, cemetery in the United States, located on the line between Cambridge, Massachusetts, Cambridge and Watertown, Massachusetts, Watertown in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Middl ...

Cambridge, Massachusetts Cambridge ( ) is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. As part of the Boston metropolitan area, the cities population of the 2020 U.S. census was 118,403, making it the fourth most populous city in the state, behind Boston, ...

. Among the first to make use of a tract of land within the cemetery was the First Congregational Society (now First Unitarian Society). They moved several interments from older plots in Providence to Swan Point. Over the years additional land acquisition has expanded the cemetery to , and is still open to new interments today. The Swan Point Cemetery is widely considered to be the most prominent cemetery in Rhode Island due to the number of well known citizens of the state buried there. There are more governors, senators and congressmen buried there than any other cemetery in Rhode Island. Swan Point Cemetery was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1977. It is one of the two largest cemeteries in Providence with the other one being the

North Burial Ground The North Burial Ground is a cemetery in Providence, Rhode Island dating to 1700, the first public cemetery in Providence. It is located north of downtown Providence, bounded by North Main Street, Branch Avenue, the Moshassuck River, and Ceme ...

Notable interments

Swan Point has the burials of many notable Rhode Island figures: * Rachel Blodgett Adams, 1921 Ph.D., mathematician *

David Aldrich David Aldrich (November 4, 1907 – September 13, 2002) was an American watercolor painter and architect from Rhode Island. The landscapes and cityscapes that he painted were not painted with literal realism but rather with freedom and spo ...

, American artist *

Nelson W. Aldrich Nelson Wilmarth Aldrich (/ ˈɑldɹɪt͡ʃ/; November 6, 1841 – April 16, 1915) was a prominent American politician and a leader of the Republican Party in the United States Senate, where he represented Rhode Island from 1881 to 1911. By the 1 ...

, U.S. Congressman, U.S. Senator, grandfather of Vice President

Nelson Rockefeller Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller (July 8, 1908 – January 26, 1979), sometimes referred to by his nickname Rocky, was an American businessman and politician who served as the 41st vice president of the United States from 1974 to 1977. A member of t ...

* Richard Steere Aldrich, U.S. Congressman, son of Nelson W. Aldrich * Henry B. Anthony, Governor of Rhode Island, and

President pro tempore A president pro tempore or speaker pro tempore is a constitutionally recognized officer of a legislative body who presides over the chamber in the absence of the normal presiding officer. The phrase ''pro tempore'' is Latin "for the time being". ...

of the U.S. Senate *

Lemuel H. Arnold Lemuel Hastings Arnold (January 29, 1792June 27, 1852) was an American politician from the U.S. state of Rhode Island. A Whig, he served as the 12th Governor of the State of Rhode Island and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Early ...

, U.S. Congressman, Governor of Rhode Island * Richard Arnold,

Union army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...

general * Sullivan Ballou, state politician, Civil War officer killed in action at the Battle of Bull Run, whose love letter to his wife was featured in Ken Burns's '' The Civil War'' * David L. Barnes, U.S. District judge, litigant in

West v. Barnes ''West v. Barnes''2 U.S. (2 Dall.) 401 (1791) was the first United States Supreme Court decision and the earliest case calling for oral argument. '' Van Staphorst v. Maryland'' (1791) was docketed prior to ''West v. Barnes'' but settled before the ...

* Augustus Osborn Bourn (1834-1925), Businessman and politician, Governor of Rhode Island 1883-1885 *

Charles R. Brayton Charles Ray Brayton (August 16, 1840 – September 23, 1910) was an American politician and lobbyist. A Republican, ''The New York Times'' called him the "Blind Boss of Rhode Island," drawing parallels with New York City's disgraced political bo ...

, Civil War officer, Postmaster of Providence and long time Republican political boss *

Ambrose Burnside Ambrose Everett Burnside (May 23, 1824 – September 13, 1881) was an American army officer and politician who became a senior Union general in the Civil War and three times Governor of Rhode Island, as well as being a successful inventor ...

, Major General in the Civil War, Governor of Rhode Island and U.S. Senator * Adin Ballou Capron, U.S. Congressman *

Malcolm Greene Chace Malcolm Greene Chace (March 12, 1875 – July 16, 1955) was an American financier and textile industrialist who was instrumental in bringing electric power to New England. He was a pioneer of the sport of ice hockey in the United States, and was ...

(1875–1955), industrialist, hockey innovator, and amateur tennis player * Malcolm Greene Chace Jr., (1904–1996) chairman of

Berkshire Hathaway Berkshire Hathaway Inc. () is an American Multinational corporation, multinational conglomerate (company), conglomerate holding company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Its main business and source of capital is insurance, from ...

during the 1960s * Malcolm Greene Chace III (1934–2011), board of directors of

1992–2007 *

George Henry Corliss George Henry Corliss (June 2, 1817 – February 21, 1888) was an American mechanical engineer and inventor, who developed the Corliss steam engine, which was a great improvement over any other stationary steam engine of its time. The Corliss ...

, inventor of the

Corliss steam engine A Corliss steam engine (or Corliss engine) is a steam engine, fitted with rotary valves and with variable valve timing patented in 1849, invented by and named after the American engineer George Henry Corliss of Providence, Rhode Island. Engines ...

Helen Metcalf Danforth Helen Metcalf Danforth (1887–1984; née Helen Pierce Metcalf) was an American university president. From 1931 to 1947, she served as the President of Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Early life Helen Metcalf Danforth was born September ...

(1887–1984) university president. * Jane Anthony Davis, American painter * Thomas Davis, U.S. Congressman *

Thomas Wilson Dorr Thomas Wilson Dorr (November 5, 1805December 27, 1854), was an American politician and reformer in Rhode Island, best known for leading the Dorr Rebellion. Early life, family, and education Thomas Wilson Dorr was born in Providence, Rhode Isla ...

, Political reformer, revolutionary and Governor of Rhode Island *

Sarah Elizabeth Doyle Sarah Elizabeth Doyle (March 22, 1830 – December 21, 1922) was an American educator and educational reformer, noted for her roles in founding the Rhode Island School of Design and establishing women's education at Brown University. Early life S ...

, Educator and reformer. * Thomas Arthur Doyle, long-serving mayor of Providence *

Elisha Dyer Elisha Dyer (July 20, 1811 – May 17, 1890) was an American politician and the 25th Governor of Rhode Island. Early life Dyer was born in Providence, Rhode Island on July 20, 1811 to an old New England family which traced its Dyer ancestry ba ...

, Governor of Rhode Island *

Elisha Dyer Jr. Elisha Dyer Jr. (November 29, 1839November 29, 1906) was a Rhode Island politician who was 45th Governor of Rhode Island from 1897 to 1900. He was the son of Elisha Dyer, Governor of Rhode Island from 1857 to 1859. Early life Dyer was born in ...

, Governor of Rhode Island, Mayor of Providence * Benjamin Tucker Eames, U.S. Congressman *

C. M. Eddy Jr. Clifford Martin Eddy Jr. (C. M. Eddy Jr.; January 18, 1896 – November 21, 1967)Fenham Publishing/ref> was an American writer known for his horror, mystery and supernatural short stories. He is best remembered for his work in ''Weird Tales'' m ...

, author *

Theodore Foster Theodore Foster (April 29, 1752January 13, 1828) was an American lawyer and politician from Rhode Island. He was a member of the Federalist Party and later the National Republican Party. He served as one of the first two United States senators ...

, U.S. Senator * Albert Gallup, U.S. Congressman *

Lucius F. C. Garvin Lucius Fayette Clark Garvin (November 13, 1841 – October 2, 1922) was an American physician and the 48th Governor of Rhode Island from 1903 to 1905. Biography Origins and family Lucius Garvin was born in 1841 in Knoxville, Tennessee. ...

, Governor of Rhode Island *

Darius Goff Darius Goff (10 May 1809 – 14 April 1891) was one of the foremost textile manufacturers in the United States and a leading citizen of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He is known for introducing the manufacture of worsted braids and mohair plush ...

, Pawtucket businessman and textile mill owner. *

Daniel L. D. Granger Daniel Larned Davis Granger (May 30, 1852 – February 14, 1909) was a U.S. Representative from Rhode Island and mayor of Providence, Rhode Island. Early and personal life Granger was born May 30, 1852 in Providence, Rhode Island, to Dr. James N ...

, U.S. Congressman *

Theodore F. Green Theodore Francis Green (October 2, 1867May 19, 1966) was an American politician from Rhode Island. A Democrat, Green served as the 57th Governor of Rhode Island (1933–1937) and in the United States Senate (1937–1961). He was a wealthy ari ...

, Governor of Rhode Island and U.S. Senator * William S. Hayward, Mayor of Providence *

Robert Henri Robert Henri (; June 24, 1865 – July 12, 1929) was an American painter and teacher. As a young man, he studied in Paris, where he identified strongly with the Impressionists, and determined to lead an even more dramatic revolt against A ...

, American painter and teacher * William Warner Hoppin, Governor of Rhode Island *

Charles Tillinghast James Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English language, English and French language, French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic, Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*k ...

, U.S. Senator * Thomas Allen Jenckes, U.S. Congressman * William Jones, Governor of Rhode Island * Herbert W. Ladd, Governor of Rhode Island * Benedict Lapham, industrialist, philanthropist * Oscar Lapham, U.S. Congressman * Charles W. Lippitt, Governor of Rhode Island *

Frederick Lippitt Frederick Lippitt (December 29, 1916 – May 11, 2005) was an American military officer, attorney, politician, public servant and philanthropist. He was the scion of a distinguished Rhode Island colonial family, the son of United States Senat ...

, Philanthropist *

Henry Lippitt Henry Lippitt (October 9, 1818 – June 5, 1891) was the 33rd Governor of Rhode Island from 1875 to 1877. Family Lippitt was the son of Warren Lippitt and Eliza (Seamans) Lippitt, married to Mary Ann Balch. Lippitt was the father of Charles Wa ...

, Governor of Rhode Island * Henry Frederick Lippitt, U.S. Senator * Alfred Henry Littlefield, Governor of Rhode Island * H. P. Lovecraft, American author *

Helen Adelia Rowe Metcalf Helen Adelia Rowe Metcalf (1830-1895) was a founder and director of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in Providence, Rhode Island. Early life and personal life Helen Adelia Rowe was born in Providence, Rhode Island on July 17, 1830. On No ...

(1830–1895), founder and director of a university. * Jesse Houghton Metcalf, U.S. Senator *

Seth Padelford Seth Padelford (October 3, 1807 – August 26, 1878) was the 31st Governor of Rhode Island from 1869 to 1873. Biography Padelford was born in Taunton, Massachusetts. He worked as a grocer, as well as serving on the City Council of Providence ...

, Governor of Rhode Island * Charles H. Page, U.S. Congressman * Vahram Papazyan, Olympic runner * Whipple Van Buren Phillips, businessman *

Eliza Greene Metcalf Radeke Eliza Greene Metcalf Radeke (1854–1931) was the president of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in Providence, Rhode Island from 1913 to 1931 and was the daughter of RISD co-founder Helen Adelia Rowe Metcalf. Biography Eliza Greene ...

(1854–1931), university president. * D.W. Reeves (1838-1900), bandleader known as "father of band music in America" *

Elisha Hunt Rhodes Elisha Hunt Rhodes (March 21, 1842 – January 14, 1917) was an American soldier who served in the Union Army of the Potomac for the entire duration of the American Civil War, rising from corporal to colonel of his regiment by war's end. Rhod ...

, Union Civil War veteran featured prominently in Ken Burns's '' The Civil War'' * Horatio Rogers Jr., Attorney General of Rhode Island and Rhode Island Supreme Court Justice * James Y. Smith, Mayor of Providence and Governor of Rhode Island *

William Sprague III William Sprague, also known as William III or William Sprague III (November 3, 1799October 19, 1856), was a politician and industrialist from the U.S. state of Rhode Island, serving as the 14th Governor, a U.S. Representative and a U.S. Senator. H ...

, Governor of Rhode Island and U.S. Senator *

William Sprague IV William Sprague IV (September 12, 1830September 11, 1915) was the 27th Governor of Rhode Island from 1860 to 1863, and U.S. Senator from 1863 to 1875. He participated in the First Battle of Bull Run during the American Civil War while he was a ...

, Governor of Rhode Island and U.S. Senator * Alfred Stone, Providence architect *

Royal C. Taft Royal Chapin Taft Sr. (February 14, 1823June 4, 1912) was a US politician and businessman, whose served as the 39th Governor of Rhode Island, Governor of Rhode Island from 1888 to 1889. He was a member of the Taft family, Taft political family; ...

, Governor of Rhode Island * George William Whitaker (1840–1916), the "Dean of Providence Painters"

References

External links

Swan Point Cemetery official website
* *
{{Authority control Buildings and structures in Providence, Rhode Island Cemeteries in Rhode Island Cemeteries on the National Register of Historic Places in Rhode Island Protected areas of Providence County, Rhode Island Tourist attractions in Providence, Rhode Island 1846 establishments in Rhode Island National Register of Historic Places in Providence, Rhode Island Rural cemeteries

History

Notable interments

See also

References

External links