Riverside Cemetery Tour

The Oswego County Historical Society, along with the Friends of Riverside Cemetery, will host a guided tour of the historic Riverside Cemetery. Please pre-register, due to limited space. The cemetery tour will begin at the Page Memorial Chapel at the main entrance of the cemetery (pictured).

The Riverside Cemetery was incorporated in 1855 and is situated just outside the Oswego city line. It was designed as a rural cemetery by landscape architect Burton Arnold Thomas. In the mid-19th century rural cemeteries became a popular choice for a final resting place in a park-like setting on the outskirts of town. This was opposite the earlier condensed cemeteries which outgrew space in growing neighborhoods. Also referred to as a garden style, the rural cemeteries were seen as places to visit and enjoy the landscape along with the artistry of the monuments.