The mission of the Friends of Mount Hope Cemetery is to optimize the cemetery's potential as a cultural resource through education, preservation and promotion of Mount Hope Cemetery's unique heritage.

Dedicated in 1838 in Rochester NY, Mount Hope is America's first municipal Victorian cemetery.

Set in a picturesque landscape shaped by retreating glaciers, the cemetery features more than 80 mausoleums, soaring Egyptian obelisks, winged angels of mercy, a Florentine cast-iron fountain, two stone chapels in Gothic Revival style, a Moorish gazebo, and infinitely varied tombstones marking 350,000 graves across 196 acres.

Mount Hope Cemetery is listed in:

    •    Mount Hope/Highland Preservation District, Rochester, New York
    •    New York State Register of Historic Places
    •    National Register of Historic Places
    •    National Park Services National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom
    •    Erie Canalway National Corridor as an Affiliate Site

and is a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat and a historic site on Rochester's portion of the Genesee Riverway Trail.
The Friends of Mount Hope Cemetery have been named a Preserve America Steward. This designation is granted by First Lady Michelle Obama to not-for-profit organizations committed to caring for America's cultural heritage.


MAILING ADDRESS
Please address mail correspondence to:
Friends of Mount Hope Cemetery
P.O. Box 18713
Rochester, NY 14618-0713



Please note: When using the CONTACT US feature, the words CONTACT US must be the only words used in the subject line.

2016 GUIDED WALKING TOURS
The Friends of Mount Hope Cemetery offer general and special-theme guided walking tours throughout the year.

The 2016 season of regular weekend public tours runs through the end of October. Visit the TOURS page for a complete 2016 schedule of general and special theme tours.

HISTORIC CEMETERY LANDMARKS
NEED YOUR HELP
In 2015 two major restoration projects were undertaken by the Friends of Mount Hope Cemetery:

The Moorish-Style Gazebo
The Civil War Monument

We are reaching out to ask you to help us attain our goal of $50,000 to defray the costs of overdue repairs to these irreplaceable landmarks. Please visit the DONATIONS page for information about these projects and how you can help.

GENEALOGICAL SERVICES
Click on Genealogical Services to find request forms and information about  assistance offered by Friends volunteers.

SHOPPING ONLINE AT AMAZON?
Support the Friends of Mount Hope Cemetery by choosing us as your charity of choice when you shop at Smile.Amazon.com.