Laurel Hill also represented an important phase in the evolution of public space. Scottish born architect John Notman, Laurel Hill’s chief designer, carved out the cemetery’s landscape to take advantage of its riverside location. Early managers promoted personal expression in monument design; families responded with gravestones both grand and elaborate. The wealthy even employed renowned sculptors to adorn their sites.

Founder and proprietor, John Jay Smith, further cultivated the site into a landscaped arboretum, guiding the planting of botanical species from around the world. All of these unique features led Laurel Hill to rapidly become a popular tourist destination for people across the country. Although Laurel Hill predated the public park system, in many ways it served the same purpose before such a concept even existed.

The expansion of Fairmount Park in the 1860’s prevented further growth at Laurel Hill Cemetery and in 1869, founder John Jay Smith purchased land across the Schuylkill River in neighboring Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County to expand Laurel Hill.

Both Laurel Hill properties are home to generations of Philadelphians from all stations of life including well-known names representing nearly every discipline — artists, architects, authors, doctors, musicians, politicians, scientists, war veterans, civic leaders, innovators in industry, and more. Names such as Rittenhouse, Strawbridge and Widener are certainly of local interest, but Breyer, Luden, Stetson, and Whitman are brands known across the country.

In 1994, Laurel Hill purchased Bringhurst Funeral Home and in 1997, the present funeral home was erected on the grounds of the cemetery in Bala Cynwyd. In 2016, the funeral home rebranded to be recognized as West Laurel Hill Funeral Home and today it is simply known as Laurel Hill Funeral Home.

To support the continued preservation and interpretation of the sites, the Friends of Laurel Hill was founded as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Since that time, the Friends has worked to reposition Laurel Hill as a cultural and educational attraction. The importance of Laurel Hill’s history, coupled with the work of the Friends, has garnered designations on the National Register of Historic Places, the National Recreation Trails System, and as the first cemetery to be honored as a National Historic Landmark.

In recent years, Laurel Hill’s visibility has increased substantially. Opening the Kelly Drive Pedestrian Access greatly improved entry to both the cemetery and the adjoining Ridge-Allegheny-Hunting Park neighborhood for cyclists, walkers, and runners from the Schuylkill River Trail. An ambitious lighting initiative launched in 2020 highlights significant mausoleums and monuments to travelers along Kelly Drive at night, and a natural landscape restoration project along Kelly Drive is in the works to significantly improve the environmental and ecological character of the area.