Westerly Burial Ground
Also known as: Centre Street Burial Ground
Why it's listed
Westerly Burial Ground is a small cemetery of about 0.91 acres on Centre Street, the main commercial street of West Roxbury in Boston. Town selectmen voted in 1683 to allow a burying place for residents of the western part of Roxbury, and the earliest surviving marker dates to 1691. Around 1845 the grounds were enlarged to the west and enclosed with a puddingstone wall and granite gateposts. About 265 grave markers remain, along with seven mid-19th century tombs and a granite obelisk. The stones record the changing style of New England gravestone art, from plain early slate markers with death's heads to carved 18th century designs and classical 19th century motifs. Some are attributed to area carvers. Burials include members of the Draper, Lyon, Whiting, Corey and Billings families, eight Revolutionary War veterans and fifteen Civil War veterans. The site was listed locally for its association with early settlement and for its funerary art. The last burial took place in 1951.
Significance in brief: It is one of the few surviving elements of West Roxbury's 17th century settlement and one of seven 17th century burial grounds in Boston. It holds a comprehensive collection of three centuries of funerary sculpture, including stones attributed to skilled regional carvers. It also holds the graves of the town's early prominent families and of Revolutionary and Civil War veterans.
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 87001401, listed November 20, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Centre St., West Roxbury |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | November 20, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001401 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1683-1900 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Art |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in relatively good condition; earliest slate markers are in good condition, while large tombs need masonry repair and 19th century brownstone and marble stones need the most repair. Last burial was in 1951. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.28137, -71.15883 (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 87001401.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7987408
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.