Grove Hill Cemetery
Why it's listed
Grove Hill Cemetery, on Main Street in Waltham, is the city's oldest burial ground. Its first recorded graves date to November 1703, and land for it was purchased by the Middle Meetinghouse's Society in 1704. It began as about two to three acres and has grown to roughly nine, with about 3,500 stones dating from 1703 to 1985. Earlier called the Old Burying Ground, it was renamed Grove Hill in the late 19th century and was the only burial ground in the city until Mt. Feake was laid out in 1857. The grounds hold slate stones with winged skulls, late 18th century willow and iron motif stones, Egyptian Revival obelisks, Tuscan columns, and earthen vaults marked "Town of Waltham." Rusticated granite entrance posts suggest Egyptian Revival design. The oldest stones lie in the northwest corner, near an unmarked area of black interments. The cemetery was listed for its association with Waltham's leading families and its range of gravestone craftsmanship.
Significance in brief: It is the oldest place of burial within Waltham's city limits and holds the graves of many leading 18th and 19th century families. It contains a wide range of gravestones and memorials, from simple early 18th century markers to Egyptian Revival obelisks and Victorian vaults. It is judged to retain integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 89001549, listed September 28, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 290 Main St., Waltham |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 28, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001549 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Architectural style | Egyptian Revival (entrance posts and obelisks); Victorian vaults |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as well landscaped and well maintained, with stones in generally good condition. |
| Acreage | 9.4 |
| Coordinates | 42.37600, -71.22102 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 89001549.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715499
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.