Hope Cemetery, Barre, VT - August 5, 2025
- Loretta Hubler
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
We had heard about this cemetery and decided to go when Sue and Bryant came up for a visit. Located on a small hillside just outside of Barre, VT.
Excerpts from the website: The Hope Cemetery stands as a magnificent tribute to the stone cutters and artisans peacefully interred among their very own creations. Entering the front gate, you will pass by two granite sentries, forever watchful over their abode of the final resting place for generations of local residents, with graves dating back to the 1800s. The cemetery is famous for its intricate and lifelike statues that depict the people they honor in striking detail. These sculptures are so realistic that they have become a popular subject for photographers and artists from all over the world. It is a historical record of Barre's past, with a vast array of memorials that span more than a century. Each statue tells a story, from the young bride who passed away on her wedding day to the grieving father who commissioned a sculpture of his beloved daughter. These memorials give us a glimpse into the lives of the people who shaped this small town, and offer a sense of connection to those who have gone before us. Hope Cemetery is one of the most photographed cemeteries in the world. At first, you might think that it would be a bit bizarre to visit a graveyard for reasons other than visiting long departed friends or relatives. However, once you realize the scope of artistry and craftsmanship inherent within the cemetery. It would truly be a shame to miss these unusual works of art. They are literally a credit and monument to the ingenuity of the people who created them, as much as a memorial to the people who are interred within or under them.
The stonework is just amazing. There was a large white house building with white pillars, a regular house with doors and windows, a plane, a race car, pyramids, soccer ball, squares, and one large stone with a dog laying on top with a lone sneaker; this one really got both Sue and I.
