Before the establishment of the 5th Street Burial Ground in 1719, Christ Church buried the earliest members of the congregation in the churchyard, a common Christian and European practice. When burials began to take place on the outskirts of cities (largely to prevent disease), and the churchyard became filled, Christ Church purchased two acres of land on the outskirts of town at the corner of 5th and Arch Streets.

The Burial Ground became the final resting place for over 4,000 members of Christ Church, including five signers of the Declaration of Independence: Benjamin Franklin, Joseph Hewes, Francis Hopkinson, George Ross, and Dr. Benjamin Rush. Also buried on these sacred grounds are many of our nation's early leaders, prominent lawyers, medical pioneers, military heroes and victims of the Yellow Fever epidemic.

The Christ Church Burial Ground, where Benjamin Franklin is buried, is said to be haunted by the spirit of the famous Founding Father who once said, "A penny saved is twopence dear." He reportedly steals pocket change to this day and even throws pennies at visitors.