Last weekend Bill and I explored the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, which is a short drive from Manhattan into Westchester County. The Jewish parts of the ethnically diverse cemetery held some pleasant surprises; we found sleek designs that make granite look surprisingly good, as well as traditional symbols, forms, and placement that are new to me. Finally, some well-designed, modern gravestones! The crisp afternoon light and fall foliage enhanced the scene. Following are some of our best photographs.

I'll bet an architect designed this one.
Shellee probably dressed all in black and wore chunky jewelry.
The cemetery service sticker becomes obtrusive on such a minimal stone. 

A poignant stone for a four-year-old.

Nice scripts, which feel oddly commercial. They appeared on stones with Jewish and Italian names.
Unusually rusticated letters that look unfinished.

A hybrid Art Deco / Arts & Crafts stone. 
The lettering style looks older than the dates. 
The density of stones on some crowded Jewish sections reminds me of Roman Vishniac photos. 

The mausoleums are posh.
Stained glass windows glow behind mausoleum doors.