Allegheny Cemetery, historically a rural burial ground, provides a beautiful, respectful resting place for the dead and serves the community as a living tribute to generations past.
Our mission is to provide comfort to the families we serve by offering a peaceful environment, an elegant landscape, and a commitment to perpetually honor all of those entrusted to our care.
Allegheny Cemetery lies on the western slope of the great Appalachian Plateau, one of the most ancient mountain systems in the world. During the last ice age, some 20,000 years ago, the Wisconsin glacier advanced to a point midway in Butler County. The ice is estimated to have been one mile in thickness. In its movement across what is now Canada, New York, Michigan, and Ohio, the ice ground away granite shield rock and transported it in the glacier itself, leaving behind deposits, which explains why Allegheny Cemetery was able to quarry its own granite for use in building projects in its early history.
When Allegheny Cemetery was established as a non-profit, non-denominational charity on April 24, 1844, it was located on farmland about two miles up-river from the City of Pittsburgh. Today, these rolling acres still have a rural feel, but are centrally located in the city between the neighboring communities of Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, Garfield, and Stanton Heights.
Over the last 175 years, Allegheny Cemetery has been developed into dozens of sections and today includes lawn-plans for flush memorials, two reflection ponds and even a wooded hillside trail set aside exclusively for cremation burial. Over fifteen miles of paved roadways offer guests access to every section and there are two entranceways located at 4734 Butler Street as well as 4715 Penn Avenue for the convenience of our guests. While it is a full service cemetery with modern day facilities, Allegheny Cemetery remains true to its historic character with winding country roads, tree lined paths, wooded hillsides, sunlit valleys, and plenty of space for quiet reflection.
Allegheny Cemetery Staff
Behind every arrangement, memorial, and family conversation is a team dedicated to serving Pittsburgh with care and expertise. Our experienced staff brings decades of combined expertise in memorialization, family services, and grounds care — here to guide you through every step, from pre-planning to final arrangements.
Executive / Operations
Administrative Specialists
Family Services Representatives
Grounds
Art & Nature at Allegheny Cemetery
Take a stroll through our grounds and find yourself in a museum without walls
The variety of styles and forms of sculpture at Allegheny Cemetery reflect the Romantic Era in which it was founded, along with the American and English artistic styles that followed through the Victorian age and into the 20th century. Custom statuary can be found throughout the grounds, creating the feel of an open air memorial art museum.
Rolling hills, quiet ponds & centuries-old trees — it’s easy to forget you’re still in Pittsburgh
One can expect to see squirrels, rabbits, geese, foxes, groundhogs, deer, and more enjoying life in Allegheny’s urban forest. Our vibrant tree canopy is home to a thriving bird population where guests are able to catch a glimpse of a cardinal, red-tail hawk, peregrine falcon, starling, nuthatch, blue jay, kingfisher, starling, horned owl, wild turkey and even threatened species like the Red-Headed Woodpecker and Great Blue Heron, who find refuge in this rural retreat.
While these animals do not pose a danger to visitors, their health and the balance of our ecosystem can be harmed by human interference. For this reason, we ask that guests do not approach or feed the deer and other birds and animals they may come across.
Over 3,000 trees populate the cemetery grounds and tree care remains a top priority for Allegheny Cemetery. Ecological benefits include providing a food-source and habitat for wildlife, mitigating groundwater to prevent storm water runoff and damaging mudslides, as well as providing abundant CO2 absorption benefits for the surrounding community. Allegheny Cemetery is active in pruning, removal of diseased or dangerous trees, and replenishment with new plantings as a part of our ongoing commitment to conserve this historic landscape for the benefit of present and future generations.
The Family Services Representatives and staff are wonderful, helpful, and kind. Also, the grounds work people were very kind and polite. Any time I asked for something it has always been taken care of. It’s a beautiful cemetery.
I can’t begin to say how much I appreciate how Allegheny Cemetery took care of us. Our Family Services Rep was kind, professional, and very personable. I felt like they genuinely cared about the overall experience and made a very difficult situation so much easier for my family. Can’t thank them enough.
Staff was ready and friendly. All was very nice. Gravesite was neat and respectful. The maintenance crew was reverent and helpful. It is a gorgeous place for the living and dead. People were walking and enjoying the beauty.