When Philadelphians dig, they often unearth graves – as Temple University did in April, 2025. Their parking lot once held 28,000 graves from Monument Cemetery. We often read about cemeteries that had been moved, but what about the bodies? As the city grew, cemeteries were unceremoniously destroyed, but there are some recent and ongoing success stories, where faltering cemeteries have been stabilized and restored by volunteers (Har Hasetim Cemetery in Gladwyne, for instance). Snyder presents a range of topics covered in his new book, Abandoned and Forgotten Cemeteries of Philadelphia and its Environs (Fonthill, 2025). In addition to the removal of cemeteries, he will focus on recent discoveries, the frequent accidental unearthing of human remains, genealogical challenges, and the 200 unmarked burial grounds that silently sleep under Philadelphia’s streets, parking lots, and playgrounds – just waiting to remind us what Ben Franklin said: “Show me your cemeteries and I will tell you what kind of people you have.” 

Author and artist Ed Snyder has been exploring, photographing, researching, and writing about cemeteries across the nation since the early 2000s. He authors the blog, The Cemetery Traveler, and for fourteen years, served on the board of directors of Philadelphia’s Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery, Inc.