Cohasset Central Cemetery
Why it's listed
Cohasset Central Cemetery occupies a bluff above Little Harbor near the town common and has served the community since 1705, when Margaret Tower became its first burial. About 500 gravestones show the shift from gray slate carved with winged skulls and cherubs, to marble and Quincy granite in the 19th century, to modern granite markers. Carvers of the North River school and the Vinal workshop are well represented. The grounds hold a brick receiving tomb of about 1873, now a caretaker's shed, two 1980s columbaria, and granite-framed vaults along Garden Way. The most prominent monument is an eighteen-foot granite Celtic Cross, dedicated in 1914, which commemorates Irish emigrants lost in the 1849 wreck of the brig St. John; forty-five of them lie in a common grave here. Settlers, seafaring families, immigrants, veterans and summer-resident actors are also buried here, which led to its listing for its local role in the town's history and for its gravestone art.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as the oldest burying ground in Cohasset, reflecting the town's development through the people interred and the changing styles of gravestones. It holds an excellent collection of gravestone art, including work by the North River carvers and the Vinals, and is the burial site of 45 victims of the 1849 wreck of the brig St. John, marked by a 1914 Celtic Cross.
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 02001612, listed December 27, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N. Main St. and Joy Place, Cohasset |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | December 27, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02001612 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1705-1952 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Art, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still an active cemetery managed by a cemetery board; all full-burial plots are sold, new sales are for cremated remains only, and most resources are in excellent condition with a few markers and iron fences needing repair. |
| Acreage | 4286 |
| Coordinates | 42.24572, -70.80728 (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 02001612.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5141308
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.