Pierce Gravesite
Tucked within the quiet grounds of the Old North Cemetery in Concord lies the gravesite of Franklin Pierce, more personal than presidential.
Pierce, the 14th President of the United States, was born in New Hampshire and remained deeply connected to Concord throughout his life. This graveside does not have the grandeur that you might expect for a president. The monument is modest, reflecting the complicated legacy he left behind.
The site is part of the Pierce family plot. He is buried alongside his wife, and their children. Their lives were marked by deep personal tragedy. All three of their sons died young, including one just weeks before Pierce’s inauguration, when their only surviving son was killed in a train accident. It is said that this grief never left him.
The monument is a granite obelisk, rising above the family plot. Around it is smaller stones marking the lives of those closest to him. This is not a presidential memorial, but more of a family resting place.
Pierce’s grave reminds us that behind the title of president was a man shaped by loss, duty, and the weight of a divided nation.
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