Philadelphia Weekly

MULTIMEDIA

By Ryan Strand

The Wasteland: Mount Moriah Cemetery

A burned-out car atop a war veteran’s grave, graffiti on beautiful mausoleums, used condoms and dead animals are just a few of the unfortunate scenes at Mount Moriah Cemetery. The cemetery, established in 1855, spans more than 380 acres, beginning in Southwest Philadelphia. What was once a final resting place of notable individuals such as Betsy Ross and the first mayor of Philadelphia is now a wasteland. A cemetery that has an estimated 85,000 graves, about 20 percent of which are veterans has been overtaken by feral dogs, plant life and illegal activity.