Giant trees covered in Spanish moss. The cemeteries of Savannah are something unique.
Savannah, Georgia, is famous for its giant live oaks shading its streets and Spanish moss hanging from every tree. You will find no difference in many of the city’s cemeteries.
While some cemeteries are a bit more manicured than others, especially the modern ones, others are left to their own devices. All the more delightful. I will cover four of the city’s many cemeteries, three rural and one right downtown. They all have their own uniqueness. However, the first one is definitely my favorite.
Bonaventure Cemetery
Founded in 1846 on the grounds of the old Bonaventure Plantation, Bonaventure Cemetery is probably the most famous in all of Savannah. So famous in fact, you can get a mini-trolley tour. I wish I was kidding.
Bonaventure is actually just a great place to take a walk. It’s like an old garden, full of flowering plants, and giant Live Oak trees. Rural cemeteries were first developed in Europe to be like parks. They were usually on the edge of cities, making them a destination to visit and have a stroll or picnic. Bonaventure truly keeps with this tradition. Cemeteries created in the last 50 years in the US are very boring in comparison.
Jana Irving How could anyone not love a cemetery where you are welcomed by this?!?
Jana Irving Very park like.
Jana Irving According to a Google review, this cemetery is “horribly maintained.” Heaven forbid they see an old European cemetery.
Jana Irving Tomb of Little Gracie Watson, who died in 1889. She was much loved by her parents.
Jana Irving The best time to go is when it is cloudy and/or it has just rained. Because of all the trees, harsh shadows form when it is sunny.
Jana Irving Very park like.
Jana Irving Even the more open areas are gorgeous. This area contains tombs that are a bit more modern.
Jana Irving There aren’t a lot of deciduous trees, so you won’t find gorgeous autumn colors like in some other rural cemeteries.
Jana Irving I love all the fenced off burial plots.
Jana Irving Some are really fancy.
Jana Irving I love all the flowering bushes.
Colonial Park Cemetery
Formerly known as the “Old Cemetery,” this cemetery has 18th and 19th century burials. It was founded in 1750 as a burial ground for the Church of England burials. In 1789, it became the main cemetery for the city until it was closed in 1858. It became a city park in 1896.
Jana Irving Brick burial vaults are very common in the south.
Jana Irving Just a normal city park, with graves.
Jana Irving Not all the tombstones are still in place. Some are stored along one of the outer walls.
Jana Irving Tombstone of a man from New Jersey.
Jana Irving The 1964 memorial of Button Gwinnett, Georgia signer of the Declaration of Independence. It is said that he lies under the monument.
Jana Irving The founding father Nathanael Greene was once entombed in the vault on the left.
Jana Irving Greene is now buried in Greene Square in the historic district.
Laurel Grove South Cemetery
Laurel Grove Cemetery is separated into two parts, North (for white people), and South (for African Americans). It was founded in 1853. Laurel Grove South is laid out like any other Victorian cemetery of the time. Its just a bit different from the rest. It seems very empty. However, many of those buried here could not afford a monument that lasted.
Jana Irving Some of Savannah’s leading African Americans were buried here.
Jana Irving Some of the tombs are more elaborate.
Jana Irving Some are not.
Jana Irving Several pastors of local churches are buried here.
Laurel Grove North Cemetery
Laurel Grove North is a bit similar to Bonaventure, just with less vegetation. However, it would have been more like Bonaventure in the past. Since it was founded before the Civil War, many former Confederates are buried here.
Jana Irving Pretty similar to Bonaventure.
Jana Irving Not as much vegetation, but still gorgeous.
Jana Irving There are several large brick burial vaults and mausoleums.
Jana Irving Also a great place to go for a walk.
Jana Irving A husband a wife (died 1833) that were originally buried in the South Broad Street Cemetery and reinterred here in 1886.
Jana Irving Love it. So much better than some of those boring cemeteries that have no trees.
Jana Irving Gorgeous.
Jana Irving I love a good old cemetery.
Jana Irving Love this.
Jana Irving A corner of the cemetery apparently was reserved for Jewish burials. Some tombstones have only Hebrew on them. Others, like this one, has both Hebrew and English.
Jana Irving Just a fantastic cemetery.
Savannah is home to many cemeteries. Some are like the ones above. Some are those boring ones with tombstones flat to the ground. Although, there are actually a couple of modern ones that are shaded by Live Oaks as well. It’s a great mix.
Check out my next post where I head back to Amsterdam!
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