Ben Franklin probably won't look this good as a zombie
As your fight your way through the legions of undead, you might recognize a few famous undead. Here is a guide to the famous and historical figures you might have to battle after they rise from the grave.
At Fifth and Arch streets you’ll find the best collection of historical zombies in the Christ Church Burial Ground. While some you may not recognize by sight, many share an important part in the city’s history.
Undoubtedly the most well-known walking dead you’ll encounter is Ben Franklin. You’ll also find four other signers of the Declaration of Independence: Benjamin Rush, Francis Hopkinson, Joseph Hewes and George Ross. Two more signers can be found shambling around the churchyard at Second and Market streets, Robert Morris and James Wilson.
You also might have to fight off famous founders Dr. Thomas Bond, who started the colonies’ first hospital, Pennsylvania Hospital, with Franklin, and Dr. William Camac, who opened the nation’s first zoo.
Less than three blocks away you'll find another famous figure shambling around her yard. Betsy Ross, who designed the colonies' flag, is buried at her house on Arch between Second and Third.
In many cases, more than 200 years of decay will prevent most of these undead from posing much of a threat, if they’re able to dig their way out at all.
If you took the advice a previous article and chose to flee Philadelphia by way of the Schuylkill River Trail, you might encounter two other notable zombies. John Wanamaker, who founded the Wanamaker department stores is buried at St. James the Less of West Hunting Park Avenue. Harry Kalas, the Phillies broadcaster who died earlier this year, is interred at Laurel HIll Cemetery.
In Montgomery County you might have to fight your way through two other Philly baseball alumni: Richie Ashburn at the Gladwyne Methodist Church Cemetery and Connie Mack at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Cheltenham. If you're really unlucky, you'll run into former notorious Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo, who is also buried at Holy Sepulchre, and you can be sure he won't go down without a fight.
In Delco you can find famous singer Marian Anderson at Eden Cemetery in Collingdale, but be careful you don't run into serial killer H.H. Holmes at Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon.
In New Jersey you could come across the walking corpse of Walt Whitman at Harleigh Cemetery in Camden, or controversial Union general George McClellan at Riverview Cemetery in Trenton.
Finally, in Bucks County you will likely find Nancy Spungen (Sid Vicious' famous partner in crime) roaming King David Memorial Park in Bensalem. There is another famous figure buried in Bensalem, but you probably won't find her among the walking dead. St. Katherine Drexel is buried at the mission center and shrine bearing her name, but presumably she would spared such a terrible existence.
Comments
this is a pointless article.
Actually I thought this was a pretty clever way to talk about famous people buried in Philly and zombies at the same time
It is important to tell people about these prominent Americans, but referring to these great people as Zombies is very disrespectful. Neither funny or clever.
No disrespect was meant by the article. I just always wondered what famous and historical figures were buried in the area and thought this would be an interesting way to write about it. Lighten up.
I had no idea some of these people were buried in Philly! This was a great way to point out that buildings aren't the only history in the city. Love this article!
While I appreciate the list of famous, dead Philadelphians it should be noted that should there be a zombie apocalypse none of these people would be infected. The infection can only attack a live body, though it does cause death. No need to cause unnecessary panic about hundreds of years of dead bodies susceptible. Or excitement for those history buffs wandering around during said apocalypse.
Well that depends on which type of zombie (or films) you prefer. In the Return of the Living Dead movies (not to be confused with Romero's similarly titled films) there was a chemical, trioxin I think, which could reanimate people who had been long dead.
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