Oak Grove Cemetery and Arboretum

Oak Grove Cemetery was established in 1851 and is the largest cemetery in Delaware County, encompassing some 70 acres and containing over 21,000 interments.  A prime example of the 19^th century rural cemetery movement, it was designed to mindfully utilize and showcase the natural shape of the land.

With 38% canopy coverage of over 600 trees, including several varieties of oak, maple, hickory and pine, Oak Grove is a peaceful shady sanctuary not only of the dead but for the living.  The trees support multiple animal species including squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, deer, hawks, Eastern bluebirds and other northern songbirds. Springtime blossoms of crabapple, redbud, dogwood and magnolia give way to the lush summer canopy of maples, oaks, hickories which then dress the grounds in the varied reds, oranges, yellows, and browns of autumn.  Sweetgum and ginkgo add to the colorful palette before the greens of various cedars, spruces and pines provide noticeable spots of color throughout the winter season.

There is always something to see and do at Oak Grove. Topics for group or self-guided tours include: notable Delawarians’ gravesites and the history of the community, bluebird boxes, veterans memorials, and arboretum trees. Visitors can also enjoy a stroll through our Woodland Scattering Garden, participate in a stone cleaning workshop, or check out our best known and most popular monument, which happens to be a limestone sculpture of an elm tree.