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Rosa Bonheur (1829-1899) was born in France.  She was an artist well known for her  renderings of animals.  So it seems almost fitting that a beautiful cemetery for animals be named after her.  

It has been called a pioneering site.  Founded in 1935 and named after the famed artist, it was one of the first pet cemeteries IN THE WORLD.  

In 1979 the owners made a monumental decision.  Rosa Bonheur became the first pet cemetery in the nation where owners were allowed by be buried along with their pets.  A decision which, according to the Washington Post, made national headlines.

According to one website, in circa 1991 then owner /operator Jerry Rosenbaum had even established a "tomb of the unknown pet" complete with bronze plaque honoring the large number of stray and abused pets that die each year.

It is the resting place of the likes of  famed horse Gypsy Queen, a local Police K-9, a Military K-9 who gave his life during the fight at Guadalcanal and 22,000 others along with some two dozen of their owners are laid to rest.

If she only knew what has become of her namesake.

Image 1
  • Rosa Bonheur
Image 2
  • DSC_1946
Image 1 (from the TerraServer website) and DSC_1946 show the location of Rosa Bonheur:

7239 Washington Blvd
Elkridge, Howard County, Maryland

On Route 1, just south of Route 100
Coordinates:  39* 11' 8"N 76* 45' 40"W

Image 3
  • DSC_1947
Image 4
  • DSC_1948

Certainly this site deserves to be saved as a historical location.    

The County Council of Howard County Maryland, attempted three times and failed to make this a
"Historic Site" under County Resolution 98-2004, page 7.  Rosa Bonheur was listed as:

MHT: 829
BUILDING NAME: The E. Gross and A. Watner Property
NUMBER: 7239
STREE: Washington Boulevard
MAP: 37
PARCEL: 107
COMMENTS: The Rosa Bonheur Memorial Park

For a copy of the failed proposal go to:
http://www.co.ho.md.us/CountyCouncil/CCdocs/CR98-2004.pdf


INFORMATION WANTED

I am looking for anything you can provide me about this cemetery.  I am especially interested in:

-Images of how the cemetery use to look
-Plot maps or deeds stating specifically where animals are laid to rest.

The more information we get, the better chances we have of  mapping the cemetery out.