From headstones shaped like people to memorials that play music, this place is weird and beautiful. The Forest Hills Cemetery in Jamaica Plain is one of the most beautiful, and slightly bizarre, cemeteries in Massachusetts. More than just a burial ground, this place has become a surprisingly beautiful landscape of artwork and natural beauty.

You should visit in order to check out the cool sculptural headstones – some may be a bit more creepy than others – and enjoy the luscious greenery that has been cultivated for almost 200 years.

The first thing you'll see is the giant gate to the cemetery.
Flickr/smiling_stingray
Founded 1848, entering Forest Hills feels like walking into a castle of the dead.
This isn't just a graveyard – it's an arboretum, sculpture garden, and greenspace.
Flickr/Bill Ilott
Forest Hills was one of the first cemeteries in the nation to embrace the idea of creating beautiful spaces where visitors could stroll and remember their loved ones.
Ancient trees provide plenty of shade while you stroll. The giant weeping European beech tree is a striking natural feature of the cemetery.
Wikimedia Commons
The giant, lush trees and plants of the cemetery are as impressive as some of the best headstones and sculptures.
This cemetery definitely has a playful side. Some of the headstones are actually interactive.
Flickr/Andreas Matern
Visitors can fill Forest Hill with the beautiful sounds of a giant xylophone, installed permanently on the cemetery grounds.
You'll also find a miniature village of cement homes.
Flickr/carmenmitchell
These headstones are actually replicas of the houses that people in the Forest Hills Cemetery once lived in.
A few tombs use the natural assets of the cemetery to create some really interesting memorials.
Yelp/Galina M.
One popular memorial is the lovely "Boy in the Boat" sculpture. It is a headstone for a young child.
Yelp/Maureen H.
Protected from the elements by a glass case, the sculpture is in perfect condition.

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This headstone for a young boy makes it easy to imagine the pain and heartbreak of those left behind.
Flickr/Matt
Children's graves are unfortunately in abundance at Forest Hills, especially in the older sections of the cemetery.
TripAdvisor/Lenette_02
These headstones shaped like tiny beds are an especially heartbreaking sight.
Tripadvisor/WorryFreePhilly
The cemetery also features a beautiful pond, complete with fountains.
Yelp/Catie C.
Though you can't swim here, the sound of the water is almost equally refreshing.
There are a few seating areas around the pond where you can curl up with a good book, or watch the sun play on the water.
Yelp/Galina M.
It might strike you as odd to spend an hour or two relaxing in a graveyard, but this place is a truly restful place for both the living and the dead.
Many of the headstones are deeply personal and reflect the personalities of those buried beneath.
Flickr/Bill Ilot
This dog tombstone is so lifelike, you'd almost expect it to bark as you approach.
Of course, if you're looking for classic cemetery architecture and design, Forest Hills has that in spades.
Flickr/Liz West
The white marble and granite of many tombs provide a striking contrast to the fiery colors of autumn foliage.
All in all, this place is more than just a dreary graveyard: it's a stunningly peaceful place to reflect and explore.
Gl0betr0tter/ Tripadvisor

Forest Hill is the perfect combination of eerie and beautiful. If you’re looking for somewhere a bit more spooky, check out this Massachusetts house that is so haunted, visitors have to sign a waiver in order to enter.

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More to Explore

Creepy places to visit in Massachusetts

Chris Dodge | October 01, 2022

What are some other creepy places to visit in Massachusetts?

The Forest Hills Cemetery is a beautiful and creepy place to relax among the dead. There is always something a little unsettling about graveyards, walking with deceased people only six feet under you might have something to do with it. If you like to spend time in odd or creepy places then we have a couple of more suggestions for you.

First off, in Boston, a must-visit place is the King's Chapel Burying Ground in Boston. This is the oldest graveyard in the city and was founded in 1630. The King’s Chapel Burying Ground is actually part of the freedom trail as well. If you want to take a walk on the scarier side then you might want to visit one of these eight haunted graveyards. Stories of graverobbers doing strange things with the deceased, a lightning-charged ghost, and more can be found in these graveyards.

Sometimes, when you are looking for something truly chilling, exploring some abandoned places might be more your thing. Take a look at some of these odd abandoned places. Some of them are old hospitals and everyone knows that those are some of the most terrifying places to explore. If you like cemeteries, then why not visit one of the prettiest ones around — it may not be as scary, but it is worth the visit. The Oak Groves Cemetery has beautiful headstones and is revered for its well-maintained grounds.

For our last suggestion, we recommend going to the “Bridgewater Triangle”. This is a section of the Freetown Fall River State Forest. This forest has been known to have a plethora of incidents as well as some rather strange paranormal activity. It certainly is worth the read, the story is very disturbing.

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95 Forest Hills St, Boston, MA 02130, USA