ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Historians from a Rochester cemetery are visiting the final resting places of some of the city's notable figures in STEM, celebrating the gift of science. Residents and tourists are commemorating several astronomical discoveries made there.

What can be known to be a bit dark and eerie has become a new tourist attraction.

“Mount Hope Cemetery is a great asset to the community and one of the greatest things we can do is talk about our history and help people appreciate all that's happened in Rochester through the lens of our residents,” Mount Hope Cemetery board member Sally Millick said.

Visitors from near and far are gearing up to celebrate the solar eclipse, like mom and daughter duo, Jen Sharp-Knott and Ellie Woods, visiting Rochester from Virginia. 

“We take trips out west and, you know, trips wherever we go,” Sharp-Knott said. “We try to do a lot of things involving science in the natural world. And she's probably into more science museums and children's museums and the average person in zoos. And so there's just so much to learn.”

They bond closer than ever by celebrating the gift of science. 

“I'm excited to spend this trip with my mom and the next solar eclipse,” Woods said. “I'm going to be around her age. And so we're excited to make that girl's trip again.”

Traveling through time and visiting some of the most prolific scientists and inventors and Rochester historians share that. The best place to learn history is at the cemetery.

“So what we did today in honor of the eclipse is write a tour around scientists, inventors, the Strasenburgh, who donated money for the planetarium,” Millick said. “And just again, educating people about all the things that happened here, such as the discovery of 13 comets. People find it of interest, but also it's inspiring to people that are trying to do things today. And I think it gives people something to be proud of in terms of all the great things that have happened in Rochester.”

Despite cemeteries being a place to pay respects to those who have gone, historians share that their legacy will continue to live on through a new light in educating others about science. 

“We're just excited to be in Rochester,” Sharp-Knott said. “It's a really beautiful city and we love visiting.”

“I think science is just everywhere and if you look close enough you can really be amazed,” Woods said.

The Friends of Mount Hope Cemetery is a nonprofit organization of volunteers founded in 1980 to restore, preserve, and encourage public use and enjoyment of this unique historical treasure. The tour program is one of the most well-known activities of the Friends of Mount Hope Cemetery.

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