Christ Church Burial Ground

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Christ Church Burial Ground
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location:	5th and Arch Sts. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Coordinates:	39°57′6.86″N 75°8′55.23″W / 39.9519056, -75.148675Coordinates: 39°57′6.86″N 75°8′55.23″W / 39.9519056, -75.148675
Added to NRHP:	June 24, 1971
NRHP Reference#:	71000062[1]
Governing body:	Private

Christ Church Burial Ground in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is an important early-American cemetery. It is the final resting place of Benjamin Franklin and his wife, Deborah. Four other signers of the Declaration of Independence are buried here, Dr. Benjamin Rush, Francis Hopkinson, Joseph Hewes and George Ross. Two more signers are buried at Christ Church just a few blocks away.

The cemetery belongs to Christ Church, the Anglican church founded in 1695 and place of worship for many of the famous Revolutionary War participants, including George Washington. The burial ground is located at 5th and Arch Streets, across from the Visitors Center and National Constitution Center. The Burial Ground was started in 1719, and it is still an active graveyard. 100,000 tourists visit each year, many leaving pennies on Franklin's grave. [1]

History greets visitors to Christ Church Burial Ground.

Benjamin Franklin's much-visited tomb.

Christ Church Burial Ground after a rainstorm.

Commodore William Bainbridge tomb.

Other famous people buried at Christ Church Burial Ground are:

• Commodore William Bainbridge, Naval hero of War of 1812, captain of "Old Ironsides"
• Dr. Thomas Bond, co-founder of Pennsylvania Hospital
• Sarah Franklin Bache
• Elizabeth and Samuel Powel
• Tench Francis, Jr.
• Dr. Philip Syng Physick,
• Philip Syng, silversmith and inventor with Benjamin Franklin
• Thomas Lawrence, five-time mayor of Philadelphia
• Commodore Thomas Truxtun, commander of the Constellation
• John Cadwalader, congressman and judge
• James Biddle, Commodore in the United States Navy

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Web site for Christ Church Burial Ground
• Official Map of Christ Church Burial Ground
• Christ Church Burial Ground at Find-A-Grave

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