Categories: TRAVEL

Rich in History: Auburn, NY’s Fort Hill Cemetery

Fort Hill Cemetery is regarded as one of the best preserved fortified villages of the ancient Cayuga Indians.(Read Here)

The local Indians in the 16th century used this area as a fortified hill. It is believed by local historians that this Fort was built as a defense in the many wars that raged between the Indian tribes. When the Iroquois Confederacy was born, the Cayugas left to seek new homes yet today there is still a faint trace to indicate the original Fort.

Hall’s History of Auburn (1860) describes Fort Hill as a “bold eminence located in the western part of Auburn which, by the beauty of its groves and its prominence as a point of observation should, in the opinion of many citizens, be converted into a park.” Indeed, Fort Hill was declared “Eagle Park” on an 1836 map.

The original cemetery consisted of 22 acres and was dedicated on July 2nd, 1852. It had been incorporated the previous year under its official name : “Trustees of the Fort Hill Cemetery Association of Auburn.”

In the early 1950s, a Jewish section was opened in the cemetery, and in 1998 the Oak View section opened more space for burials. Fort Hill now has 83 acres of land, and is one of Auburn’s most dominant local historical attractions.

Here, you can visit the tombs and headstones of many nationally known historical figures including (but not limited to) :

Theodore Case (1888-1944) Created the first commercially successful soundtrack for motion pictures.

Harriet Tubman (1820-1913) Leader of the Underground Railroad.

William H. Seward (1801-1872) Secretary of State for President Lincoln, purchased Alaska.

While the notable historical figures found in Fort Hill Cemetery draws the attention of many tourists passing by, locals enjoy the seasonal beauty of this preserved natural land. Despite it being a cemetery, it is a wonderful place to go for hikes, take pictures, and even bring a picnic.

In October, there is a Moonlit Tour of Fort Hill, led by local ‘celebrity’ Lydia Rosell. Lydia has also published a book entitled “Images of America : Auburn’s Fort Hill Cemetery.

Fort Hill Cemetery is also where you can find the massive flocks of crows that have become an over-population in Auburn over the past few years (another tourist drawing attraction in fact.) and it has been considered symbolical (or more spiritual) that the majority of these crows gather in Fort Hill during the winters. This is of course in reference to Fort Hill’s original standing as a battleground for the Cayugas.

If you ever happen to be traveling through Auburn, NY you don’t need to stop and research all it’s local history. but you do need to make a brief detour and view this wonderful landmark; if nothing more than to appreciate the beauty within Auburn’s Fort Hill Cemetery.