Located within a twenty minute walk from historic Fort Hunter Mansion, in Harrisburg, Pa, is the McAllister Cemetery. This cemetery contains the graves of the builder of the mansion as well as descendants. It is an easy walk, but not very accessible if you have trouble walking long distances. Starting at the parking lot near the centennial barn, you must walk down Fort Hunter road until the road ends and becomes a dirt path. There is a bar crossing the road to prevent people from driving further, but it is allowed to go under the bar and continue on. A short way down the dirt path you will come to a tunnel. Pass through the tunnel and continue to go on. The road forks, keep to the left. Continue further into the woods and the cemetery will be on your left. It is a beautiful walk filled with woodland animals (watch for bears!) , butterflies, and interesting relics of the railroad.

In the early 19th century the dead were often buried on the family land. Increasing concern over sanitation and land use led to the creation of park like cemeteries beginning in the mid 1800's. However some people kept the tradition of family plots, as can be seen here. This cemetery was last used in 1914.

If you visit McAllister Cemetery, you may notice that some of the burial plots have head and footstones. This was to avoid disinterment during subsequent burials. Archibald McAllister and his second wife, Elizabeth, are buried with such stones in the northwest corner of the plot. Young children are buried to the east of them and one is symbolized by a very weathered lamb atop one of the stones.

(By Dawn DuBois)