Honestly, if you walked into Rochester’s Mount Hope Cemetery on a random Tuesday in July, you might walk right past it. The Susan B. Anthony gravesite isn't some massive, towering obelisk that screams for attention. It’s actually pretty modest. Just a simple, white marble headstone tucked into a family plot in Section C.
But come Election Day? It’s a whole different story.
You’ve probably seen the photos on the news—thousands of women lining up for hours, clutching their "I Voted" stickers like holy relics. They press them onto the stone (or these days, onto a protective plastic shield) until the marble disappears under a sea of red, white, and blue adhesive. It’s a ritual. It’s messy. It’s deeply emotional. And it’s become one of the most significant pilgrimage sites in American civil rights history.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Site
People often think this tradition has been around forever. It hasn’t. While locals have left flowers at the Susan B. Anthony gravesite for decades, the sticker phenomenon really exploded in 2016. That year, more than 10,000 people showed up. The cemetery had to stay open late, and the line stretched so far back it felt like a theme park—minus the rides and plus a lot of crying.
There’s also a common misconception that she’s buried alone. She’s not.
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Susan is surrounded by her family. Her sister, Mary S. Anthony, is right there beside her. Mary was a powerhouse in her own right—a suffragist and the first female principal in a Rochester public school. If you’re visiting, don’t ignore Mary’s stone. She was the one who kept the home fires burning while Susan was traveling the country getting arrested and making speeches.
The Reality of Visiting Mount Hope
Mount Hope Cemetery is huge. Like, 196 acres huge. It was the first municipal Victorian cemetery in the United States, which basically means it’s a beautiful, hilly labyrinth of winding paths and old trees.
Finding the grave can be a bit of a trek if you don't know where you're going.
- Enter through the north gate at 1133 Mount Hope Avenue.
- Look for the signs—the cemetery staff is pretty good about marking the path to Section C, Plot 93.
- If you get lost, follow the people. Usually, there's at least one other person heading toward "Susan."
The vibe at the Susan B. Anthony gravesite is weirdly quiet yet heavy. You’ll see teenagers in "Votes for Women" t-shirts and 90-year-old women who remember when their own mothers couldn't cast a ballot. It’s a place where the theoretical "right to vote" becomes a physical, tangible thing you can touch.
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Why the Stickers are Controversial (Sorta)
Look, the cemetery loves the tribute, but the marble doesn't.
Headstones are porous. The glue from thousands of stickers can actually eat into the stone or cause staining. That’s why, during major election cycles, the Friends of Mount Hope Cemetery now install a clear plexiglass cover over the headstones of both Susan and Mary.
It feels a bit less "authentic" to stick your sticker on plastic, sure. But it beats ruining a 120-year-old monument.
The Frederick Douglass Connection
You can’t talk about the Susan B. Anthony gravesite without mentioning Frederick Douglass. He’s buried in the same cemetery, just a short walk away in Section T.
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These two were the ultimate "it" couple of 19th-century activism, even if they had their massive falling out over the 15th Amendment. Visiting both graves in one trip is the move. It gives you the full picture of the Rochester reform scene. It’s a heavy afternoon, but honestly, it’s worth the emotional weight.
If You’re Planning a Trip
If you want the "full" experience, go on Election Day. Just be prepared to wait. In 2024, the cemetery saw massive crowds again. They usually open early (around 8:00 AM) and stay open until the polls close.
If you hate crowds? Go in the fall. The Rochester foliage is incredible, and you can actually spend a quiet minute at the site without someone asking you to move so they can take a selfie.
Wait, what about the house?
The National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House is only about three miles away on Madison Street. In 2024, it actually served as an early voting site. Talk about a full-circle moment. You can vote in the house where she was arrested for voting, then drive ten minutes to tell her about it at her grave.
Quick Facts for Your Visit:
- Location: 1133 Mount Hope Ave, Rochester, NY.
- Section: C, Plot 93.
- Cost: Free to enter the cemetery (though donations to the Friends of Mount Hope are a good vibe).
- Accessibility: The paths can be steep and uneven. If you have mobility issues, you can drive fairly close to the plot, but parking on the narrow cemetery roads is a nightmare during peak times.
The Susan B. Anthony gravesite isn't just about a woman who died in 1906. It’s about the fact that she died fourteen years before the 19th Amendment was even ratified. She never got to see the "fruition of the work," as she put it. Every sticker left on that stone is a message to her that the work didn't stop when she did.
Next Steps for Your Visit
If you're heading to Rochester, start by checking the Mount Hope Cemetery official map to pinpoint Section C before you arrive, as cell service can be spotty among the hills. You should also book a tour at the Susan B. Anthony Museum & House at least two weeks in advance, as they sell out fast during election years and Women’s History Month.