On Saturday, June 12, I decided to take a “nature walk” in a different sort of place and at the same time stop by for a “visit” with an old friend. Albany Rural Cemetery in Loudonville, NY, is just under 500 acres and was opened in the early 1800s. Today there are over 135,000 people buried in the cemetery, including one President of the United States, 34 members of Congress, 8 presidential cabinet members, 5 New York State Governors, and 55 mayors of the City of Albany.

My first stop, however, was at the gravesite of Robert and Leona Train Rienow. The Rienows lived for many years on a property called Hollyhock Hollow Farm in Selkirk, New York. Mrs. Rienow passed away just a year or so before we moved to New York State, so I never met her. But, I spent many hours visiting with and talking with Robert Rienow. Upon his passing, he donated the farm to me and the Audubon Society of New York State (ASNYS), and I renamed it Hollyhock Hollow Sanctuary. Upon my retirement from ASNYS, the organization decided that they no longer wanted to be stewards of the sanctuary and have since passed ownership to the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy. I spent over 26 years working out of the office at Hollyhock Hollow Sanctuary, and now I believe the sanctuary is in good hands for the long-term future.

The inscription below that is on the side of the Rienow mausoleum sums up nicely the Rienow reverence for nature.

Albany Rural Cemetery is a wonderful place to walk or ride a bike through. The cemetery is full of ancient grave markers that are real works of art. A huge number of stately old trees are scattered throughout. And several lovely streams traverse the property and are bordered by large swathes of forested areas.

Former U.S. President Chester A. Arthur and his family plot is one of the more famous burial locations to be found in the cemetery. By the worn paths up to the monument, his gravesite receives a steady stream of visitors.

Although our walk through the cemetery was a mix of the beauty of nature, quietness, and solitude, I am certain that during the spring and fall migration periods, Albany Rural Cemetery would be full of life with many species of migratory birds. I do believe that I will return and confirm that.

Have you ever strolled through a cemetery as part of a nature walk? As someone interested in family history, I have spent many hours walking in cemeteries. Some people find that a bit odd, but I think it is a great way to show respect for our ancestors while enjoying the sites and sounds of nature.