Step into Albany Rural Cemetery, an open-air museum of Victorian funerary art including twelve works by the internationally celebrated nineteenth-century sculptor Erastus Dow Palmer. Among these is one of his most renowned masterpieces, Angel of the Sepulchre, a full-sized plaster cast of which is prominently displayed in the rotunda of the Albany Institute of History & Art.
The tour highlights memorials for a range of individuals—infants, a young daughter, and a young mother, as well as a politicians, businessmen, and other professionals. Dr. Lynn Radlick will also guide you to Palmer’s final resting place, marked by a monument designed by Marcus T. Reynolds with input from Palmer’s son and Impressionist painter, Walter Launt Palmer. The monument is adorned with reproductions of two of Palmer’s most popular works from the 1850s. Experience history, artistry, and memory intertwined in this serene and beautiful historic cemetery
A Combination Walking/Driving Tour of Albany Rural Cemetery
This walking/driving tour will involve carpooling between sites and walking to Palmer’s monuments. The program will last approximately two hours and includes multiple stops, with a total walking distance of about one mile. Most travel will be along relatively flat roadways and grassy areas; however, please note that the ground off roadways and around the monuments may be uneven. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring insect repellant and sunscreen. Please also note that there are no bathroom facilities in the cemetery.
The tour group will begin at Cypress Pond. There will be signs to help direct you. Check the cemetery website to access a map of the cemetery: www.albanyruralcemetery.org. There are two entrances to the cemetery: the main gate off Broadway in Menands and the south gate entrance off Rte. 378 (Menand Rd. at Van Rensselaer Blvd (Rte. 377). The easiest and more direct route to Cypress Pond is from this south gate entrance.
Related Programs
This is one of two tours Dr. Lynn Radlick will lead in Albany Rural Cemetery:
Dr. Lynn Radlick has been involved with Albany Rural Cemetery for over 35 years. She is the author of Erastus Dow Palmer, Sculptor of this City, the foundation for this tour. Over the years she has given numerous lectures and led engaging walking tours of the Cemetery, sharing her expertise with diverse audiences. Dr. Radlick received her Ph.D. from RPI and was a professor at Siena College and then for the last 10 years of her career she was at RPI. The Albany Rural Cemetery has been the focus of her interest since retirement.
