With over 15 million people visiting cemeteries annually, it’s clear that these sacred spaces hold a unique attraction for many of us.¹ These fifteen gravesites and cemeteries offer a glimpse into the lives and legacies of the world’s most notable figures.
Each one is a testament to the power of human creativity, innovation, and perseverance, and each one is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in history, architecture, or the lives of famous figures.
1. Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 – New Orleans, Louisiana
Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 in New Orleans, Louisiana, is a historic cemetery known for its unique above-ground mausoleums, marble coffins, and its appearances in popular movies. It is home to the graves of notable figures such as Brigadier General Harry T. Hays, who led the 1st Louisiana Brigade during the American Civil War, and Judge John Howard Ferguson, who ruled on the landmark civil rights case Plessy v. Ferguson.
The cemetery contains the graves of notable jazz musicians associated with Papa Laine and the New Orleans Rhythm Kings (ref).
Visitors to Lafayette Cemetery can see a variety of above-ground tombs and mausoleums, including those of the Jefferson Fire Co. #22, the Odd Fellows Society, and the New Orleans Home for Incurables. They explore the historic site through a self-guided tour or join a guided tour to learn more about its history and significance.
2. Arlington National Cemetery – Arlington, Virginia
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, is one of the most patriotic places in America, serving as the final resting place for over 400,000 U.S. soldiers. Visitors can see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a large white sarcophagus that is guarded 24 hours a day by Tomb Guard sentinels (ref).
Visitors to Arlington National Cemetery can see the gravesite of President John F. Kennedy, marked by an eternal flame, and the graves of other prominent figures such as President William Howard Taft, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, and General John Pershing.
The cemetery features Arlington House, the former residence of Robert E. Lee, which is open for public tours. On Memorial Day and Veterans Day, the cemetery hosts remembrance services in the Memorial Amphitheater, often attended by the current President or Vice President.
3. Highgate Cemetery – London, England
Highgate Cemetery in London, England, has a variety of notable graves and monuments. The East Cemetery is accessible without a guided tour and features the graves of famous individuals such as Karl Marx, George Eliot, and Douglas Adams.
The cemetery’s architecture includes a mix of styles like Egyptian Revival, Classical, and Gothic, with intricate mausoleums, monuments, and gravestones showcasing elaborate sculptures and beautiful stone craftsmanship.
The landscapes within the Highgate Cemetery are designed as a garden cemetery, with winding paths, towering trees, and carefully maintained greenery. The West Cemetery requires guided tours and is home to notable graves like those of Michael Faraday, Elizabeth Siddal, Christina Rossetti, George Michael, and Jeremy Beadle.
Visitors can see the Egyptian Avenue and the Circle of Lebanon, featuring tombs, vaults, and winding paths through the hillside.
4. Père Lachaise Cemetery – Paris, France
Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, France, has a number of notable graves and memorials. Visitors can see the final resting places of many famous artists, writers, and musicians, including Jim Morrison, Honoré de Balzac, Marcel Proust, Oscar Wilde, Frédéric Chopin, and Edith Piaf.
Visitors to Père Lachaise Cemetery can visit memorials like the Monument Aux Morts and the Mur des Fédérés, which commemorate the victims of the Paris Commune and the Nazi concentration camps. Guided tours are also available, and visitors can use maps and guides to navigate the cemetery.
5. Granary Burying Ground – Boston, Massachusetts
Granary Burying Ground in Boston, Massachusetts, has a variety of notable graves and monuments. The cemetery is the final resting place of many famous figures, including Paul Revere, John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Mary Goose, reputedly the original Mother Goose.
Visitors to Granary Burying Ground can see the graves of Benjamin Franklin’s parents, Robert Treat Paine, and the victims of the Boston Massacre. The tombstones and monuments are adorned with intricate carvings, poetic epitaphs, and depictions of the Grim Reaper and Father Time, reflecting the artistic styles of different eras.
6. Ketchum Cemetery – Sun Valley, Idaho
Ketchum Cemetery in Sun Valley, Idaho, is the final resting place of Ernest Hemingway, a famous American novelist, and outdoorsman. Hemingway’s grave is located under a tree and is often adorned with offerings from his fans, including cigars, whiskey bottles, and beer cans.
Ketchum Cemetery is a beautiful park-like setting surrounded by the majestic peaks of the Wood River Valley. Visitors can explore the nearby Community Library and Wood River Museum of History and Culture, which features exhibits on Hemingway’s life and works, including a vintage typewriter where visitors can type their own “One True Sentence” like Hemingway used to do.
7. Bonaventure Cemetery – Savannah, Georgia
Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia, has a variety of notable graves and monuments. The cemetery is famous for its natural beauty, with old statues and mausoleums scattered under trees dripping with Spanish moss.
Bonaventure Cemetery is known for its unique sculptures, such as the famous “Bird Girl” statue, which was featured on the cover of John Berendt’s book “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.” Visitors can explore the cemetery’s scenic grounds, which include live oaks adorned with Spanish moss, and take guided tours to learn more about its history and notable residents (ref).
8. Hollywood Forever Cemetery – Los Angeles, California
Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California, is the final resting place of hundreds of Hollywood’s greatest luminaries, including Judy Garland, actress and singer known for her iconic roles in “The Wizard of Oz” and “Meet Me in St. Louis,” Cecil B. DeMille, director and producer of films like “The Ten Commandments” and “Samson and Delilah” (ref).
Visitors can explore Hollywood Forever Cemetery’s scenic grounds, which include live oaks adorned with Spanish moss, and take guided tours to learn more about its history and notable residents. The cemetery hosts various events throughout the year, such as outdoor movie screenings and concerts, making it a unique and memorable destination for anyone interested in Hollywood history and culture.
9. Waverley Cemetery – Sydney, Australia
Waverley Cemetery in Sydney, Australia, located by the sea, is known for its Victorian and Edwardian monuments and offers excellent views of the city. Notable residents include Victor Trumper, poet Henry Lawson, and over 200 war veterans (ref).
Visitors to Waverley Cemetery can explore the cemetery grounds, which offer views of the city and the Pacific Ocean. They can walk through the cemetery and admire the beautiful Victorian and Edwardian monuments and memorials, which reflect the changing values and attitudes towards death and mourning in Australia since 1877.
The cemetery hosts guided tours, which provide insight into its history, notable residents, and the cultural and religious diversity of the Australian community.
10. Aoyama Cemetery – Tokyo, Japan
Aoyama Cemetery in Tokyo, Japan, is famous for its cherry blossom blooms in spring and is the final resting place of many historically and culturally prominent people in Japan. Visitors to Aoyama Cemetery can explore the scenic grounds and admire the hundreds of mature flowering cherry trees, making it a popular spot during early spring.
Visitors to Aoyama Cemetery can pay their respects to notable residents, including politicians, kabuki actors, authors, and foreign figures who contributed to Japan’s modernization. They can visit the grave of Hachiko, the famously loyal dog, and explore the foreign section of the cemetery, which houses the human remains of Westerners who helped modernize Japan.
11. Green-Wood Cemetery – Brooklyn, New York
Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, with grand gothic-style gates and entrances, sets the tone for the 478-acre grounds, which include ponds, rolling hills, and greenery. The cemetery is home to numerous statues and monuments, including depictions of Biblical scenes and allegorical figures representing mourning, death, and the afterlife.
Notable residents include Jean-Michel Basquiat, Boss Tweed, and Civil War heroes (ref).
Green-Wood Cemetery’s highest point, Battle Hill, marks the site of the first major battle of the American Revolutionary War in 1776. Visitors can learn about this important historical event and enjoy panoramic views of Brooklyn and Manhattan from this vantage point.
12. The Merry Cemetery – Săpânța, Romania
The Merry Cemetery in Săpânța, Romania, features colorful cartoon representations and darkly humorous poems about the lives of those buried there. It aims to celebrate death and make it a lighter subject.
Visitors to the Merry Cemetery can see a unique display of over 800 brightly colored wooden crosses and tombstones. Each cross features paintings and poetic epitaphs that humorously depict the lives, professions, and even the manner of death of the individuals buried there. This unconventional approach to memorializing the dead aims to celebrate life and make death a less somber subject, reflecting the local Maramureș culture’s unique perspective on mortality (ref).
13. Okunoin Cemetery – Mount Koya, Japan
Okunoin Cemetery in Mount Koya, Japan, is a Buddhist pilgrimage site famous for its monuments, including spaceships and eternally lit lantern temples. Notable residents include Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism who is believed to be in eternal meditation, awaiting the arrival of the Buddha of the Future.
Visitors to the Okunoin Cemetery can see the Gobyobashi Bridge, where they can pour water over the heads of Buddha statues as a ritual act. The cemetery includes modern sections with corporate tombs, such as a memorial to termites exterminated by a pest control company and a large-scale model of the Saturn V rocket that carried Apollo 11 to the Moon (ref).
14. South Park Street Cemetery – Kolkata, India
South Park Street Cemetery in Kolkata, India, is a Christian cemetery that dates back to the 1700-1800s and features a mix of Western and local architectural influences. The cemetery is home to over 1600 tombs, including those of prominent personalities such as Henry Louis Vivian Derozio, Sir William Jones, and Lieutenant-General Sir John Clavering (ref).
The South Park Street Cemetery grounds are surrounded by tall trees and greenery, giving the site an overgrown tropical jungle feel. Visitors can explore the cemetery’s landscape, admire the beautiful tombstones, and learn about the history and significance of this heritage site.
15. Cementerio de la Recoleta – Buenos Aires, Argentina
Cementerio de la Recoleta in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is famous for its beautiful architecture. It is the final resting place of many notable figures, including Eva Perón, who is buried in a grand mausoleum designed by Italian architect Carlo Zucchi. Other notable residents include Argentine presidents, Nobel Prize winners, military commanders, and influential politicians (ref).
Visitors to the Cementerio de la Recoleta can see an array of beautiful architecture, including mausoleums and vaults, many of which are adorned with intricate marble and sculptures. The cemetery’s grounds are home to over 90 monuments declared National Historical Monuments, showcasing the country’s rich history and cultural heritage.
Source:
- https://www.archdaily.com/957429/sacred-spaces-what-can-cemeteries-teach-us-about-our-history-and-society
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Nancy Maffia
Nancy received a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.
