A cemetery wanderer find a whole lot of great cemeteries on accident.
Charleston, South Carolina, is an old city. Founded back in 1670, you would expect to find some old cemeteries. I planned what I was going to visit a couple of days before I visited. I saved one of the larger rural cemeteries (which are always great), but I also found some really neat old cemeteries right in the historic district. Here’s what I have found.
#1 – St. Michael’s Church
Jana Irving St. Michael’s Churchyard is very compact around the church. But since the church is from the 18th century, old tombstones are expected.
Jana Irving I was not disappointed. Tombstone from 1766.
Jana Irving James Richardson was a merchant from Havana that died while in Charleston in 1831 or 1834. I swear it looks like he was 11 or 14 years old when he died on the tombstone.
Jana Irving A few of the tombs are a bit fancy.
Jana Irving Tomb of General Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, one of the founders of the American Republic and friend of George Washington.
Jana Irving Tomb of John Rutledge, signer of the US Constitution and former Governor of South Carolina.
#2 – St. Philip’s Church
Jana Irving This was one of the larger cemeteries in downtown Charleston.
Jana Irving A bit more of a garden feel in parts.
Jana Irving Tomb of John Caldwell Calhoun, 7th Vice President, whose very vocal beliefs basically led the country toward Civil War. He wasn’t a great guy and he also looked like this. I cannot remove that image from my brain.
Jana Irving Tombs are really crammed in here.
#3 – Circular Congregational Church
Jana Irving This cemetery was by far my favorite of the cemeteries I visited. I only realized it existed because it is back to back with the previous cemetery.
Jana Irving At first it seems a pretty standard early American cemetery.
Jana Irving I have never seen tombstones this old in such a great quality.
Jana Irving I’ve also never seen carvings like this before.
Jana Irving There was quite a few of these.
#4 – Second Presbyterian Church
Jana Irving Another cemetery I stumbled upon.
Jana Irving Very smushed up against the church.
Jana Irving Lots of trees.
#5 – Magnolia Cemetery
Jana Irving This cemetery is located outside of the historic center. Created as a rural cemetery, it was supposed to be more park like and at the time it was opening, it was outside of the city.
Jana Irving This live oak probably pre-dates from the founding of the cemetery in 1850.
Jana Irving The William B. Smith mausoleum, probably the most unusual mausoleum in this cemetery.
Jana Irving Memorial complete with cannon fence. William Washington was Lieutenant Colonel in the US Calvary during the Revolutionary War.
Jana Irving Tomb of the Confederate soldiers lost during the sinking of the Confederate submarine H. L. Hunley. They successfully sunk a Union ship in 1864. It was the first successful act of submarine warfare ever. They also promptly sunk. (Which wasn’t surprising because the Hunley had sunk two other times during development, killing a total of 21.) Their remains were recovered in 2000.
Jana Irving Live Oak and Spanish moss. It wouldn’t be a good southern cemetery without them.
#6 – St. Lawrence Cemetery
Jana Irving This cemetery is a Catholic cemetery next door to Magnolia Cemetery. It isn’t as old or fancy, but it did have this giant cross.
Jana Irving All it needs is more trees, honestly.
Jana Irving That’s a bit different.
Jana Irving Also very interesting.
#7 – Bethany Cemetery
Jana Irving Across the street from Magnolia Cemetery, is the Lutheran cemetery.
Jana Irving A whole lot of German names in here. Not surprising.
Jana Irving The fanciest tomb in the cemetery.
Jana Irving Most of the cemetery looks like this, but with less trees.
Charleston was not a place I expected to find some really cool cemeteries. I planned to stop at Magnolia Cemetery, but found quite a few other great cemeteries to check out along the way. Taphophiles (people that find cemeteries interesting) would find Charleston a great place to stop.
Check out my next update where I explore the oldest European-founded city in the United States!
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