PENNSYLVANIA, (WTAJ) — Whether you’ve lived in Pennsylvania your entire life or are a newer resident, you may be surprised by the number of famous figures who call the Keystone State their final resting place.
From Founding Fathers and military heroes to pop culture icons and Olympic gold medalists, Pennsylvania’s cemeteries are filled with people who helped shape history.
Benjamin Franklin is one of the most famous people buried in Pennsylvania. The Founding Father, inventor, and statesman helped shape the United States and became known for his experiments with electricity and numerous civic contributions.
Franklin’s final resting place is at Christ Church Burial Ground in Philadelphia, where he is buried alongside his wife, Deborah Read Franklin, and their son, Francis Folger Franklin. A simple flat ledger stone marks his grave, but it remains one of the cemetery’s most visited sites, attracting thousands of visitors each year. A longtime tradition among visitors is to leave pennies on the grave, a nod to Franklin’s famous saying, “A penny saved is a penny earned.”
Another Revolutionary-era figure buried in Pennsylvania is Betsy Ross, who is credited with creating the first American flag. Ross was originally buried at the Free Quaker Burial Ground before her remains were moved to Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia.
Pennsylvania is also home to the grave of James Buchanan, the nation’s 15th president. Buchanan, the only U.S. president from Pennsylvania, is buried in Lancaster, where he spent much of his life.
Sharing Christ Church Burial Ground with Franklin is Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence who became known as the “father of American psychiatry” for his contributions to the field of medicine.
The state’s cultural influence can be seen through the number of artists and entertainers buried here.
Near Pittsburgh, visitors can find the grave of Andy Warhol, the pop art pioneer whose work transformed modern art and whose legacy is celebrated at The Andy Warhol Museum in downtown Pittsburgh. Warhol is buried at St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Cemetery in Bethel Park, and fans often leave Campbell’s Soup cans and other tributes at his gravesite in recognition of his iconic artwork.
Another Pittsburgh icon is Stephen Foster, often called “America’s first great songwriter.” The composer, whose music became deeply woven into American culture, is buried in the city where a bridge and popular attraction are named after him.
For generations of children, Fred Rogers, better known as Mister Rogers, was a familiar face on television screens. The beloved host of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood is buried at Unity Cemetery in Westmoreland County, not far from where he spent much of his life.
Pennsylvania also serves as the final resting place for actor John Barrymore, a legendary stage and film performer buried at Mount Vernon Cemetery in Philadelphia.
Sports fans can find several household names buried throughout the state as well.
Jim Thorpe, widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes in history, is buried near the Carbon County town that bears his name. An Olympic gold medalist and professional football and baseball player, Thorpe’s accomplishments continue to earn recognition more than a century later.
In Philadelphia, heavyweight boxing champion Joe “Smokin’ Joe” Frazier rests at Ivy Hill Cemetery. Frazier rose from humble beginnings to become one of boxing’s greatest champions and remains best known for his legendary rivalry with Muhammad Ali.
College football fans often visit the grave of Joe Paterno, the longtime Penn State football coach whose career made him one of the most recognizable figures in the sport. Paterno is buried in Spring Creek Presbyterian Cemetery in State College.
The state’s business legacy is reflected in the burial site of Milton Hershey, founder of the chocolate empire that still has his name. Hershey is buried in the town he built, where his influence can still be seen through the company, schools, and community institutions he helped establish.
Pennsylvania is also home to the memorial of Todd Beamer, one of the passengers aboard United Flight 93 during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Beamer and the other passengers are honored at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, where their actions are remembered as a courageous effort to stop the hijacked plane.
In Pittsburgh’s Allegheny Cemetery, members of the influential Mellon family, including Thomas Alexander Mellon and Richard Beatty Mellon, are buried. Their banking, business, and philanthropic contributions helped shape both Pennsylvania and the nation.
Beyond these famous names, Pennsylvania’s cemeteries contain countless stories from the Civil War, World War II, and other chapters of American history.
Together, they serve as reminders that the Keystone State is not only rich in history, but also home to the final resting places of many of the people who helped make that history.
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