Paradise Lost, Paradise Found: Mount Vernon Cemetery and the Burial Ground of the Second Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia

Paradise Lost, Paradise Found: Mount Vernon Cemetery and the Burial Ground of the Second Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia
presented by Brandon Zimmerman, MA

Part of the 2026 Winter Speaker Series, Building Philadelphia via Zoom. 

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Established in 1856, Philadelphia’s bucolic 27-acre Mount Vernon Cemetery (MVC) is the final resting place of approximately 33,000 people. Over the last few decades the historic cemetery has fallen into near-total ruin due to severe neglect. It is now considered a blighted property. Since 2022 the volunteer organization, the Friends of Mount Vernon Cemetery (FMVC), have spearheaded restoration efforts at MVC, and endeavor to make the property not only an active cemetery again, but a cultural heritage destination and environmentally-preserved green space.

In January 2022, while clearing extreme overgrowth at the back of the property, volunteers uncovered a series of tombstones, slabs, and vaults originating from the 18th century burial ground of the Second Presbyterian Church (2nd Presby, formerly located at Fifth and Arch Streets, and reinterred at MVC in 1867. Little is known about these burials due to the age and neglected condition of tombstones, combined with their being buried under decades of dirt and invasive vegetation. Since the initial discovery of the 2nd Presby section, many historically significant burials have been identified, including Revolutionary War soldiers, founding fathers, framers of the Constitution, victims of the 1793 yellow fever epidemic, worshipful masters of the Masonic Order, and many more.    

This photo-centric presentation discusses the history of MVC, current FMVC restoration efforts, and restoration of the Second Presbyterian Church Cemetery section. 

Brandon Zimmerman is the founder and President of the Friends of Mount Vernon Cemetery. For over twenty years, Zimmerman has worked as an award-winning exhibit developer, designer, curator, and consultant for numerous museums, libraries, and archives throughout the United States. He is also an author. His first book, Dissection Photography: Cadavers, Abjection, and the Formation of Identity was published by Bristol University Press in 2024. He is currently at work on his second book, A Monster in the Shape of Man: Anton Probst and the Deering Family Murders, which will be published in 2026. Learn more about Zimmerman’s work on Instagram: @brandozim and the efforts of the Friends of Mount Vernon Cemetery: @mtvernoncemetery.

Complementary access available for current students and Art-Reach ACCESS card holders. Email [email protected] with valid student ID or ACCESS card to register.

The presentation link will be emailed to registrants on Tuesday, January 20 at 3pm. 

All lectures will be recorded and a replay will be available to registered participants.

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