I come here all the time. Winter and summer. It's such a lovely place to either take a walk or sit on a bench and have a moment or even just to drive-through on a pretty day. The grounds are fabulously well maintained. read more

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This is a beautiful cemetery as you can see from my photos. Nice place to sit and relax, take a stroll or bike ride though, appreciating quiet time and reflection or come to take photos... there is much to see here and it's gorgeous in the summertime. Birds, trees, statues, ponds, celeb tombstones, you get it all here. read more

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I love this place! Have taken out of town family and friends here for many years to experience its beauty, its architecture, its history. great place for bike riding b/c so few cars. the only reason i didn't give it 5 stars is because we recently got locked in, on the Main St. side. The sign state the gates close at 5, we were there shortly after 4, and the gate was locked, both by the admin bldg and by Delavan Ave. called the number listed, but no one answered. left a v/m, never got a return call. had to go through the cemetery and out onto Delaware Ave. Had we been in a car, that would have been no big deal, but we were on our bikes which added significantly to our ride b/c we still needed to get back to Main St. in order to get home. So, beware! read more

Took a tour today of the Cemetery. Very interesting and strongly recommend! Our tour guide did a great job. It's amazing all of the famous people buried here including a former President of the United States. read more

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Forest Lawn has taken over Griffin Mills cemetery out in West Falls where my parents are buried. Today my family and myself met with Missy to see what options were available for burial together in the same area. I love Griffin Mills and tho' this is not the easiest thing to do it is so important and Missy was truly wonderful and completely knowledgeable answering all of our questions plus since Forest Lawn has taken over this cemetery I'm really happy because I know it will be well taken care of . - We're not next to my parents because we waited 30 years to do this bit we did decide on a spot that I think is perfect . read more

We went to the cemetery for a beautiful walk, to visit family & see friends who are "residents". This is a wonderful place to learn about history, admire the beauty & enjoy this wonderful Buffalo treasure. This is a great idea for people who want to walk but need pavement. It really feels like an adventure, the wonderful audio clips available at more famous sites are interesting & educational. read more

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This review is about the tours available at Forest Lawn cemetery. Not about the business of running a cemetery and communion and dealings with the public. One hour walking tour was very informative and the tour guide did a great job pointing out one smaller section of the expansive cemetery. Amazing natural beauty, park like setting. Serene. Amazing artistic features in the graves and mausoleums, this cemetery is a must see for art lovers. I'd like to go back and do the trolley tour sometime. Trolley tours are sold out quickly, so do look ahead at the website to book your spot. Check out their website to get a full description of the variety of tours offered. However, one can download the Forest Lawn app and do a self guided tour which includes "80 tour spots" that highlight the graves or mausoleums of most famous people buried there, and other areas of interest to learn about. Or, one can scan the QR codes at the most famous sites to get a quick description of what you're seeing. I like this feature very much. I would consider bringing my bike and riding through the cemetery next time. Or having more time to walk and do a self guided tour, maybe in the fall when the leaves are changing color. I'm sure it will be beautiful. read more

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Came here to see the Frank Lloyd Wright Mausoleum. Some signage would have been helpful so I didn't drive around like a goofball for 20minutes. Nice place. And another FLLW stop off the list. read more

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A Buffalo landmark I had the pleasure of visiting for the first time recently! My favorite form of exercise is nice, long walks -- especially taken in beautiful places. Forest Lawn Cemetery is one of the most beautiful places I could think of to take a walk, and it's right in my backyard! The sprawling grounds host beautiful headstones and crypts, some that belong to local (and worldwide) celebrities. I don't know how large Forest Lawn actually is, but you could easily spend a good amount of time exploring each pathway and looking at all there is to see. I'm very excited to go on some brisk fall walks at Forest Lawn. It's a perfect place to go look at all the autumnal colors, and I think it's only a *little* bit spooky. read more

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We recently had some family visiting from out of town, and decided to take them for a walk through Forest Lawn to see if we could find some of the cemetery's more famous residents. This had been a Buffalo bucket-list goal of mine for some time, so why not make it a family affair! I looked up prior to arriving which section Rick James resides in, so our first stop was Section 10. With a little hunting, we found the Super Freak legend. On our way to find Rick James, we drove by a large and ornate mausoleum that we went back to, which was the resting place of the Blocher family. It is a round stone building with large glass windows, and white marble sculptures inside of each family member, plus an angel. The Blochers were a rags-to-riches Buffalo family who started with a general store, later expanding to selling shoes to the government for Civil War soldiers. Their son died at 40 of an unexpected illness, and their sculptures encapsulate the family's grief. It is a somber, but beautiful work of art. Our last hunt of the day was to find Millard Fillmore. We were having some trouble, but luckily drove by some groundskeepers who kindly guided us all the way to Millard. The Fillmore plot includes several family members and a monolith stone for Millard himself. Forest Lawn is lush with history and beauty, with many other famous residents we want to return and visit. This Buffalo landmark is a great place to take a stroll and soak up some history. https://forest-lawn.com/famous-residents/ read more

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What an amazing experience the Sunday Trolley Tour was!! This 2 hour guided tour, with actors and actresses, was far above our expectations! The four of us came off the trolley with our heads spinning from the stories and history shared and our new found love of Forest Lawn! Highly recommend this tour! read more

Forest Lawn is truly one of the most beautiful & picturesque places in the entire city of Buffalo. I felt like I was walking through an art gallery. The architecture, sculptures, scenery, wildlife, and views were simply breathtaking. I recommend doing research online ahead of time and planning which sites you would like to see. We walked around Forest Lawn for 2.5 hours and still didn't see everything. There are so many noteworthy historical burials at Forest Lawn, from President Millard Filmore to musical artist Rick James. read more

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So much Buffalo history crammed into the one hour tour, great value for the price of the tour. The women who gave the tour were so knowledgeable, highly recommend, will be going back for the trolly tour. read more

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Beautiful cemetery in the heart of the city. There's a US President buried there as well! Great for walks and jogs throughout and awesome tours as well (currently no tours due to COVID-19). Can't speak to their actual burial services this is purely about the "recreational" experience. read more

Forest Lawn - Deer! - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Buffalo, New York

This is a fantastic cemetery/park. Specifically because of the Frank Lloyd Wright Blue Sky Mausoleum. I am a huge fan of his work and had long wanted to visit this site. I've been to Buffalo a few times and never quite made it here. Boy was I missing out. Talk about design meeting nature and integrating as one. Just beautiful. This cemetery is also home to the Blocher Memorial which has a fascinating history and story about the death of an only child, an only son after a forbidden romance with a member of this family's household staff. Another must-see mausoleum for any visitor. read more

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This place is scamming - My grandmother paid her plot in full. Upon arranging @ the funeral home, I was told forest lawn needs an extra payment for opening grave. I have my grandmothers fulfilled invoice from 1997. Tell me why the $$ requested from forest lawn is the EXACT number on my invoice. Forest lawn says by law they only have to keep receipts for a certain amount of years look back, I think she said 7. Thus, my grandmas receipt from '97 is no longer viewable, they only have that it was paid off. I was on the phone with Liz, and when I challenged her that it's the same exact price , she transferred me to a higher up and they started coming up with excuse after excuse .. It's non sense and I'm sure everyone can read between the lines on what's going on here. read more

Beautiful and serene is how to describe this large cemetery in the heart of Buffalo. We went to see Blue Sky Mausoleum, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. On the internet we found a map, and drove until we found it. You can't miss it. The site is located inside the Main Street gates, and turn left. FLW did all his designing of structures to fit in with its outdoor surroundings, as he did here. The structure is awesome. Different. Famous people are also buried in the cemetery. Do your homework, and enjoy a drive and walking to the different memorial stones scattered around. read more

Forest Lawn - Blue Sky mausoleum designed by Frank Lloyd Wright - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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I have been a devoted patron of Forest Lawn for decades. I own two after-life condos in the Forest Lawn on-location Chapel, as well. Throughout my life, I have visited the sacred grounds regularly and have introduced countless local and out-of-town guests to this historical gem of a cemetery. Several of my family members are buried on-site and I regularly reflect at their burial sites, emerging myself in loving and beautiful memories for comfort. Being older now and on medication, I sometimes have the urgent need to use the restrooms on location, as do many of the visitors, particularly, the older visitors, surviving friends and family of the deceased, who are in the majority obviously due to demographics of the people buried within the hallowed grounds. Correlating with older age inevitable issues, it was always wonderful and peaceful to know that no matter how many hours I spent within the hallowed grounds, Forest Lawn has historically provided very nice public restrooms for visitor convenience. Recently, the public restrooms at the cemetery have been permanently closed due to vandalism by degenerates who have abused the privilege of having on-site restrooms. I understand the inconvenience of having staff address these issues. However, I also feel the inconvenience of losing the convenience of having on-site restrooms overrides any inconvenience issues the current staff and administration espouse. After all, it cannot be overstated that Buffalo, New York's beautiful Forest Lawn Cemetery is visited by countless local and out-of-town guests. The sins of the few should not overshadow the peace and comfort of the majority. I presented my concerns politely and logically to the staff on several occasions and was met with rudeness by reception and condescension by a director. For Memorial Day, portable potty units were temporarily provided and promptly removed after the holiday. As of today, the staff has not considered this alternative solution of port-a-potties, in a discreet location, as a viable permanent alternative to their traditional restroom facilities, and refuses to revisit the issue of restroom accessibility to the visiting public. Well, I can assure you, the visiting public will carefully review the issue of visiting the cemetery and, even may seek selling their currently unused afterlife condos. read more

If you're looking for an unusual place to take a nap, then they don't call it "Forest Yawn" for nothing. Actually they don't call it that at all, and I don't recommend napping in Graveyards, generally speaking. I've only been in here once or twice, but each time it made a huge impression. It's stunning. It's a beautiful place just to walk or drive past, but when you walk through it, it's haunting and stunning. I wouldn't mind this being my final resting place if I am honest. I have to thank Maria B, because I never thought to walk through this cemetery, but after reading her review I was compelled to (while waiting for a haircut, no less), and it was one of the loveliest walks in town, easily. This is *the* Buffalo cemetary. It's enormous, it's beautiful, it's filled with bittersweet imagery and secluded little corners. If someone spent their life or their best years in Buffalo, I would imagine they would want to be buried here. I know people that are buried here, and know people that plan to be buried here. It's one of my favourite cemetaries in the country and is a credit to the lovely city of Buffalo. Here is hoping that none of you reading ever end up here until you are ready. If only life worked that way. read more

What a picture perfect place literally just check out my pictures. We saw Deer, Geese, Swans, Ducks, and a Crane. We also went to visit Rick James grave site. When my Wife asked to go here I thought it was lame but I'm glad we went to check it out. We spent about an hour here and it was so peaceful and relaxing. The lawns are manicured and the atmosphere is nostalgic. There are a few sections for Our Veterans which I thought was really cool. If ever in the Buffalo area i definitely suggest you set a couple hours aside to come here. You won't regret it. read more

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Forest Lawn is certainly the most impressive cemetery in Buffalo, not just for the famous inhabitants, but for the striking memorials as well. It's very easy to drive around and spot something intriguing, and incredibly fun to admire the scenery. Though Forest Lawn is usually praised for honoring Millard Filmore and his family, Rick James, Darwin Martin, and various former Buffalo mayors, there are also dozens of other impressive monuments that have some interesting stories behind them. They're all as worth looking into as much as the famous ones are. A majority of the graves have death dates dating back to the late 1800's. Understandable with an old cemetery, some of the gravestones have been corroded to the point where you can barely read what's on them. Others remain incredibly vague, with a simple 'Father' or 'Mother' engraved on a small headstone. Some face perpendicular to one another. Often you can spot runners exercising throughout the cemetery, and I would wage that it's a great place to exercise if you're looking for something scenic. Ducks, geese, squirrels, and deer live in the cemetery as well. If you're the type of person who isn't all that good with directions, and perhaps wants to get the full experience of all that the cemetery has to offer, then I might suggest taking one of the bus tours that the cemetery offers during the summer. However, if you're like me -- you prefer to pave your own path, to do exactly what you want to do, then it really wouldn't be too hard to self-guide your own tour. The bigger, more expensive/popular memorials definitely have information that you could easily check out online; not to mention it's free to explore on your own anyway! read more

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As part of the fall season, my wife and I grabbed some lattes and went for a crisp walk through here. The space is very beautiful with scenic views of statues, ponds, and greenery. It is a cemetery, so some may find it strange to go for a walk here, but there definitely are people who go to walk around or go for a run. For my wife and I it was just a nice and peaceful setting to be outside, walk, and reflect on life. We actually even talked about the graves and wondered at what many of these people did during their lives. We also marveled not only at all the different burial markers but at the historical dates going back into the 1800s. Definitely worth the visit for us and I think it'll be a good memory for years to come as it was also out of the ordinary for us. read more

Forest Lawn - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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Gorgeous setting, the roadways can be a little confusing but if you are with a funeral home they may provide arrows to direct you. There is a large strem running through with ducks and giant fish. Many interesting burial sites and groupings of similar obelisks draw the eye one way or another. read more

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I would have never thought to visit a cemetery during a weekend vacation, but that's exactly what I did during my Labor Day weekend trip up to Buffalo & Niagara Falls! It really is a beautiful place with all the architecture of the headstones & vaults. People were jogging & walking while I was there as well. Came to pay homage to Rick James, but pleasantly surprised to find the Honorable Shirley Chisholm was laid to rest there as well... so cool! read more

Forest Lawn - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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I didn't know what to expect since I never did a cemetery tour. It's not the kind of thing I would choose to do but my wife was interested in doing this so I went. Wow! This was probably in the top ten of tours I have taken in my lifetime and I have been on many throughout the world. From the orientation to the actual trolley ride to the character actors this is one tour not to miss when in Buffalo. read more

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A peaceful huge cemetery that is also great for jogging. There are ponds, graves, nature and a scary fence with spikes on top of it. Okay, I'm not sure how this became a regular joggers spot. I really don't. It's kind of eerie, especially at night...understandably so. The gates on Main St. also close at 5pm. I entered through the Delaware gate around 6pm and wanted to get on Main, but after jogging around the perimeter of Forest Lawn; I couldn't get out without going all the way back! Is the Delaware gate always open? What if you enter and then they lock it? Do you become a ghost? These are the questions this beautiful cemetery makes you think of. Enter at your own peril. read more

Why does a cemetery get a 5-star rating? It's just a bunch of grass and tombstones, right? Nope, not here. Forest Lawn is one of the great romantic Victorian cemeteries -- much like New York City's Greenpoint cemetery. It's a park setting in the center of the city with a lake and tree-shaded curvy roadways really meant for walking. To shatter the poor image of Buffalo that many tourists have, I'd probably take them all here first to crash those negative perceptions of the city's history. Let's start with a small eclectic list of some of the more famous residents buried here: Lawrence Bell, founder of Bell Aircraft (first jet to break sound barrier); Dorothy Goetz Berlin, wife of Irving Berlin; Al Boasberg, comedy writer; Jessica Brown Cornelius a/k/a Countess of Northesk, Ziegfield Follies dancer; Willis Carrier, father of air-conditioning, founder of Carrier Corp; Katherine Cornell, actress; Joseph Dart, inventor of the steam-powered grain elevator; William Fargo, founder of Wells Fargo & Company; Millard Fillmore, 13th president; Charles Fuqua, actor/singer, member of the Ink Spots; Daniel Good, founded forerunner to Woolworth stores; Anna Katherine Green, detective novelist; Kathleen Howard, opera singer and actress; Red Jacket, Seneca Indian chief and orator; Rick James, musician; Pete Johnson, musician; Seymour Knox, co-founder of Woolworth stores; John Larkin, founder of Larkin Soap Company (the corporate headquarters, now demolished, was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright); Mitchel Mark, inventor of the modern motion picture theatre; Albert James Myer, founded the US Weather Bureau; George Pierce, founder of the Pierce-Arrow motor car company; Kyril Scherbatow, Russian prince from Czarist Russia; Edward Streeter, novelist.; Mary Talbert, founded Niagara Movement, forerunner of the NAACP; Janet Taylor Caldwell, novelist; and, Edwin Thomas, inventor of Thomas Flyer automobile. Plain tombstones are here, but there are stunning monuments and memorials, too -- the most famous is the Blue Sky Mausoleum, the only one designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The Blocher Monument is a glass-enclosed tomb with white marble statues conveying a story of love and sorrow. Throughout the cemetery, you'll encounter life-sized granite angels weepingly draped on tombstones, stone statues of military heroes, gigantic obelisks at every turn, veiled figures and veiled urns, a little city of columned mausoleums containing the remains of the city's millionaires, a bronze fountain of the Three Graces at Mirror Lake, a memorial designed by Stanford White and sculpture by Augustus St. Gaudens. You'll also find people walking, jogging and lunching at the lake. At 269 acres for the dead and the living, there's enough room to make it one of the great outdoor spaces in the city. read more

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With many acres to explore, Forest Lawn is a great place to go relax, discover history, watch wild life at its finest and visit passed loved ones. I personally go running through here and there's always a buck that comes up and trots behind me, most people call him speedy because I have heard he's done this before to people. The same buck every year protects a goose and her eggs and will protect them until they hatch and can move off on their own, it's quite a spectacular event to witness. A lot of inventors, writers, and other famous folks are buried here, and can find them just running around looking at things. If you're looking for one of the most peaceful spots in Buffalo that has rich history to it as well, I wouldn't pass this opportunity up. PS: They also have tours and events throughout the year, check it out you will be pleasantly surprised! read more

Forest Lawn was founded in 1849, covers over 269 acres, and is on the National Register of Historic places. Like many amazing establishments in Buffalo. Among the many buried there are U.S. President Millard Fillmore, singer Rick James, and inventor Lawrence Dale Bell. Ever since I was a child I have enjoyed exploring cemeteries and reflecting on the lives of those who lived in a different time. Forest Lawn is one of my favorite cemeteries. I want to take one of the summer Sunday tours next time I am in town. I wish I would have had more time to explore this expansive peaceful place. Forest Lawn is more than just a cemetery. It is a sculpture garden, park, and arboretum. It is also home to Frank Lloyd Wright's 1928 design for the Blue Sky Mausoleum, built in 2004. This is a great place to take a walk and relax. read more

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Forest Lawn has always been a special place to me. I have photographed a couple of weddings there and have done substantial work covering many of the graves. My most recent visit however was to visit a dear old friend who passed away last year at the age of forty some odd years old. It took me a few moments to find it, but I was amazed to see one of my photographs of him was used for the stone. It immediately brought tears to my eyes and thinking of it now is quite something, but it was wonderful to be near him and to know I will never forget him and how much he and his wife meant to me. As far as the cemetery goes, it must be seen. There are extremely old huge stones and even a Frank Lloyd Wright stone set that I admit to using for a couple of folks' photos. read more

Forest Lawn - This is an amazing stone that is a hundred and fifty some odd years old and has been kept in glass all that time. - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Buffalo, New York

"This is my Father's world, The birds their carols raise, The morning light, the lily white, Declare their maker's praise. This is my Father's world, He shines in all that's fair; In the rustling grass I hear him pass; He speaks to me everywhere." -Maltbie Babcock, This Is My Father's World, 1901 ************************************* I thought it would be fitting to use a hymn, and a beautiful one at that, to open a review of such a place. The hymn's author was actually a resident of Lockport, NY who took frequent walks along the Niagara Escarpment which inspired his writing of it. It was published after his death in 1901. Since then the hymn has become a beloved hymn in most hymnals and interestingly enough, the first seven notes of the hymn are used in the Shire Theme from the Lords of the Rings film trilogy. There's a place where the creek runs through the cemetery that has a high stone wall. There you can find a sunny or shady spot on top of the wall and lay and hear the creek pass by. You can bring a book and read or bring a friend and talk. In such a peaceful place, it's easy to feel as if you're somewhere far away even though you're in the middle of the city. In fact, the first time I came, I felt like I was in a hidden-away spot somewhere in England. Early one morning in the spring, my friend took me out here to see some rare birds. I never knew that our beloved city lies along the migratory path of many birds. The birds, not surprisingly like to stop and rest in naturally beautiful places. Like here. The warblers, a prized family of birds among birders, particularly love the trees along the creek. You can find plenty of birders with expensive cameras and binoculars here in the spring and fall. Through the help of some other birders, my friend and I were able to spot the apparently rare "Worm-Eating Warbler." If you're looking to spot different birds this one of the best places in the area. Surrounding the creek is the cemetery which is itself filled with beautiful trees and the rolling landscape of the place gives it a romantic feel even though it is a cemetery. It doesn't feel too creepy. I think the grandeur and beauty of the place is what attracts runners, walkers, and those looking to get away from the noisiness of the city. There are tours you can take to learn more about the history. I imagine there's a lot of it. read more

Forest Lawn is such a place of beauty that it is as much a place for the living as it is for the deceased. There are runners and cyclists, families and tourists. There is a fair share of deer and Canadian geese too! I love to walk or bike through the cemetery's winding and rolling paths, looking at the grave stones and mausoleums. Who could ever be forgotten in a place so beloved by the community? I would strongly suggest picking up a map, available by the Delaware and Delevan entrance. The map is good partly to know where you are but also to identify interesting people buried there such as Millard Fillmore, Red Jacket, RICK JAMES B****, and many others. The grave stones and markers are works of art, from classic style to more modern pieces. One of my favorite places is the Field of Valor where veterans are buried. Even when passing by my eyes are drawn to things such as the bronze stag or the sundial. Forest Lawn seems to ever invite me in. read more

Expensive!!! Despite the advertisements that "Forest Lawn is affordable", it is not. We had to pay one thousand dollars for a 12inch x 12 inch hole about 20 inches deep, on a plot that our family already owned. Now it will cost another three hundred dollars to put in a foundation for a marker on this same plot of land, not to mention the cost of the marker. Their cemeteries are beautiful and the should be for what they charge. read more

This place is pretty amazing. There are a lot of historical people buried in this cemetery. Just walking through it, it is a very peaceful and clean cemetery. If you haven't been here, you definitely should visit. Rick James was also buried here. read more

Forest Lawn - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Buffalo, New York

When I lived on Elmwood, Forest Lawn was one of my favorite places to go running. It's incredibly peaceful and relaxing. There are restrooms available as well as people regularly driving all around. It's not crowded but there are enough people that you feel safe. There are lots of paths and beautiful things to look at. They also do tours if you are interested in learning more about the cemetery. And you will often see wedding photos going on during the weekend. There are several entrances and it's easy to access. Consider adding it to a running route that also incorporates Delaware Park. Or if you are looking for a unique venue, they do occasionally rent the chapel. Check out their website for more information and definitely drive through or go for a run. read more

Forest lawn has been on my to do list for probably 10 years I know it's ridiculous I haven't gotten there until today but I finally made it. It was a rainy afternoon and I thought hey what the heck let me explore a little. As you enter the cemetery there are maps available so you can see who is buried where. You can also download the forest lawn app for your phone and as you visit each grave you can hear a little snippet of the person talking daycare voice actor and their connection to Buffalo and a little more information about who they are. Easily spent two hours listening to these vignettes and driving around the cemetery just Taking everything in. I definitely want to go back and check off the others that I wasn't able to get to you today. It is so breathtakingly beautiful to just open your window and listen to the quiet as you walk through the lake and hear the geese I saw a deer hedgehogs ducks and geese and other wildlife while I was there it was a truly splendid afternoon highly recommend everyone take a few hours and take in this great treasure. read more

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Whether you're looking for a quiet stroll, to go for a run or just a change of scenery, Forest Lawn is a good place for just about anything! I know, I know it's a cemetery... but did you know that it's an arboretum? Did you know that Rick James is buried here, along with Millard Filmore? It's a fantastic place to read a book, draw & paint, or just to view the cherry blossoms in bloom during Spring time or even the leaves change color in the Fall. If you're never been, I'd highly recommend it all year round! read more

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The cemetary is a 155 year old landmark with some of the most beautiful artwork you will see in the area. It inspires many artisits and writers to come in and just enjoy the surroundings. You are welcome during the hours they are open to come in and picnic (greenly) or walk or jog and sit by the pond and admire the swans and other birds that make their home here. As they mention in their commericals every Mother's Day, What a lovely place to go for a picnic and let your loved ones know what your wishes are when that time comes. Not sure if I want to laugh or cry about that. They offer bus tours and walking tours during the summer months and with notice, will schedule a tour for groups or organizations. The tours are highly recommended as you will see when you enter and realize how big this place is that you don't want to miss a thing. This is the same cemetary you can see when you are driving the serpentine section of Delaware or also on the 198 Eastbound. It's so awesome, you want to whisper! read more

Is it weird to enjoy a Cemetery? Perhaps. But enjoy it me and my companions did. We visited Buffalo in mid-February on a whim, me and 4 of my friends. We are the type of people who are interested in the unusual, perhaps, and interested in local history and places. The Cemetery is absolutely beautiful at this time of year. The snow blanketed everything, and there were literally acres and acres of untouched layers of it. There are actually bathrooms right beyond the Cemetery gates, and they're what is to be expected from bathrooms in an open area. A bit dirty, a bit smelly, but at least the girl's bathroom was warm (I heard the boys' was not), and at least there was a decent amount of toilet paper and soap. Maybe it's weird, but I find myself unintentionally mentioning a lot of bathroom quality in my reviews. Perhaps because so few people do, and almost everyone ends up using the bathrooms at various establishments. Anyways. We actually walked around this Cemetery for approximately 5-6 solid hours. Quite a number of joggers were present, as many people have mentioned. There's such an expanse of property, that this place seems like an ideal training ground for experienced joggers. There are a lot of old headstones and above-ground mausoleums. I think we even found a headstone dating back to around 1790, though it was so weathered and faded, that it was hard to tell. A few mausoleums are so large that they are roughly the size of a small house, and there are even several above-ground mausoleums. Beautiful architecture, beautiful marble statues, beautiful headstones. I will say, however, that this Cemetery is in need of some TLC. There wasn't a plot that didn't have at least one headstone that was broken off. And some of these were new ones, that some rowdy kids probably thought they would find amusement in breaking. A lot were just plain uncared for, covered in weeds and grass beneath the snow that was slowly choking the headstone and covering it completely. I would also like to note that since a lot of the graves are so old, the amount of surnames that are genuinely unique is staggering. There were German, Greek, Japanese, all sorts of really cool, interesting, (and maybe a little bit weird) last names. Flickenstein was one of my favorites, as was Scherbatow. All in all, lovely place full of culture and history to spend an evening getting lost in. read more

We took a fascinating walking tour of this cemetery in the late summer of 2003 (reservations [and payment] were required in advance) and we learned a lot about the many illustrious "residents". In addition, the cemetery is beautiful; both the grounds (including lakes) and the statuary. It's also very peaceful and I think it's the loveliest spot in Buffalo. read more