Self-Guided Visit
Revolutionary War Cemetery Walk
Explore this 1796 hilltop cemetery where some markers date to the Revolutionary War era. The site of the former church, which burned in 1973, is visible across the road.
- Duration:
- 30 min
Aerial survey · USDA NAIP · public domain Cemetery / Burial Ground
Hankey Church Cemetery
A Revolutionary War-era 1796 Lutheran cemetery atop a hill in Murrysville, Pennsylvania, whose burned church and unverified minister-lynching legend have made it a well-documented regional paranormal destination.
Hankey Church Road, Murrysville, PA 15668
Research updated May 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Publicly accessible; land still owned by the Lutheran congregation
Access
Limited Access
Hilltop cemetery; grass and uneven ground; rural road access
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1796 · Established 1796 by German Lutheran/Reformed immigrants · Contains graves of Revolutionary War soldiers · One of the older surviving burial grounds in Westmoreland County · Associated church building burned 1973
Hankey Church Cemetery has occupied its windswept hilltop near Murrysville, Westmoreland County, since 1796. Established by German immigrant Lutheran and Reformed congregations, the cemetery is one of the older burial grounds in the Pittsburgh metropolitan region and contains grave markers for several veterans of the Revolutionary War.
The Hankey Church building itself stood across the road from the cemetery for nearly two centuries until it was destroyed by fire in August 1973. The circumstances of the fire were described as suspicious, though no definitive cause was ever publicly established. The Lutheran congregation, whose membership records extend continuously from 1796, relocated their active church several miles away but retained ownership of both the former church site and the historic cemetery.
The congregation's own records, which document each pastor who served from 1796 through the present, represent a significant historical archive for the local area. Researchers have noted that the cemetery's grave markers include carved symbols, fraternal insignia, and inscriptions consistent with German Lutheran communities of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Some markers have deteriorated, but the majority of the older stones remain legible. A distinctive grave marker shaped like a tree trunk has attracted particular attention from visitors.
Sources
- http://snowandjaggers.blogspot.com/2017/11/hankey-cemetery-1796.html
- https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/best-haunted-graveyards-in-pittsburgh/
- https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/1962086/hankey-cemetery
Orbs of light in photographsCold spotsFeelings of weightlessness and floatingNumbness and physical sensationsApparitions described near the tree-trunk gravestone
The Hankey Church Cemetery has acquired a well-documented paranormal reputation in the Pittsburgh region, described by CBS Pittsburgh as one of the city's most storied haunted graveyards. The most prevalent legend involves a minister who was allegedly lynched by his congregation after being caught committing adultery. A variant holds that the minister murdered his entire family, burned the church himself, and was then hanged by congregation members from the largest tree on the property.
Researchers have investigated this claim and found no supporting evidence. The Lutheran congregation's detailed historical records, which document each clergyman who served from 1796 to the present, contain no reference to any lynching or execrable act by any pastor. A skeptical blogger who visited the site and reviewed the church records characterized the legend as bearing the hallmarks of a student-invented story, possibly inspired by literature like The Scarlet Letter. Despite the debunked origin, the legend is widely circulated in Pennsylvania paranormal writing.
Visitors to the cemetery regularly report sensory phenomena that are not easily explained by the legend's origins: orbs of light visible in photographs, persistent cold spots, a feeling of weightlessness or floating, numbness in the extremities, and what some describe as burning sensations. A tree-trunk-shaped grave marker in the cemetery is consistently identified by paranormal investigators as the focal point of reported activity. CBS Pittsburgh documented the site's reputation, noting it draws regular visitors seeking unexplained experiences.
Plan Your Visit
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hankey Church Cemetery family-friendly?
Quiet rural hilltop cemetery suitable for historical visits during daylight. Uneven terrain; supervise young children. Overall family fit: Moderate.
How much does it cost to visit Hankey Church Cemetery?
Publicly accessible; land still owned by the Lutheran congregation This location is free to visit.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Hankey Church Cemetery wheelchair accessible?
Hankey Church Cemetery has limited wheelchair accessibility. Terrain: Hilltop cemetery; grass and uneven ground; rural road access.