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
Wandering Jana St. Michael’s Churchyard is very compact around the church. But since the church is from the 18th century, old tombstones are expected.
Wandering Jana I was not disappointed. Tombstone from 1766.
Wandering Jana 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.
Wandering Jana A few of the tombs are a bit fancy.
Wandering Jana Tomb of General Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, one of the founders of the American Republic and friend of George Washington.
Wandering Jana Tomb of John Rutledge, signer of the US Constitution and former Governor of South Carolina.
#2 – St. Philip’s Church
Wandering Jana This was one of the larger cemeteries in downtown Charleston.
Wandering Jana A bit more of a garden feel in parts.
Wandering Jana 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.
Wandering Jana Tombs are really crammed in here.
#3 – Circular Congregational Church
Wandering Jana 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.
Wandering Jana At first it seems a pretty standard early American cemetery.
Wandering Jana I have never seen tombstones this old in such a great quality.
Wandering Jana I’ve also never seen carvings like this before.
Wandering Jana There was quite a few of these.
#4 – Second Presbyterian Church
Wandering Jana Another cemetery I stumbled upon.
Wandering Jana Very smushed up against the church.
Wandering Jana Lots of trees.
#5 – Magnolia Cemetery
Wandering Jana 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.
Wandering Jana This live oak probably pre-dates from the founding of the cemetery in 1850.
Wandering Jana The William B. Smith mausoleum, probably the most unusual mausoleum in this cemetery.
Wandering Jana Memorial complete with cannon fence. William Washington was Lieutenant Colonel in the US Calvary during the Revolutionary War.
Wandering Jana 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.
Wandering Jana Live Oak and Spanish moss. It wouldn’t be a good southern cemetery without them.
#6 – St. Lawrence Cemetery
Wandering Jana 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.
Wandering Jana All it needs is more trees, honestly.
Wandering Jana That’s a bit different.
Wandering Jana Also very interesting.
#7 – Bethany Cemetery
Wandering Jana Across the street from Magnolia Cemetery, is the Lutheran cemetery.
Wandering Jana A whole lot of German names in here. Not surprising.
Wandering Jana The fanciest tomb in the cemetery.
Wandering Jana 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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