On May 27, 2003 Mount Auburn Cemetery was designated a National Historic Landmark by the Secretary of the Interior, recognizing its importance as one of the country’s most significant designed landscapes.

“We are delighted to have received this honor,” said William Clendaniel, the Cemetery’s President.  “Mount Auburn, beloved by generations of Bostonians, has now been officially recognized for its importance to all Americans.” The criteria for becoming a National Historic Landmark, the nation’s highest designation, are rigorous. The site must have “exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States.”  Fewer than 2,500 sites bear this national distinction.