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.
Wandering Jana How could anyone not love a cemetery where you are welcomed by this?!?
Wandering Jana Very park like.
Wandering Jana According to a Google review, this cemetery is “horribly maintained.” Heaven forbid they see an old European cemetery.
Wandering Jana Tomb of Little Gracie Watson, who died in 1889. She was much loved by her parents.
Wandering Jana 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.
Wandering Jana Very park like.
Wandering Jana Even the more open areas are gorgeous. This area contains tombs that are a bit more modern.
Wandering Jana There aren’t a lot of deciduous trees, so you won’t find gorgeous autumn colors like in some other rural cemeteries.
Wandering Jana I love all the fenced off burial plots.
Wandering Jana Some are really fancy.
Wandering Jana 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.
Wandering Jana Brick burial vaults are very common in the south.
Wandering Jana Just a normal city park, with graves.
Wandering Jana Not all the tombstones are still in place. Some are stored along one of the outer walls.
Wandering Jana Tombstone of a man from New Jersey.
Wandering Jana The 1964 memorial of Button Gwinnett, Georgia signer of the Declaration of Independence. It is said that he lies under the monument.
Wandering Jana The founding father Nathanael Greene was once entombed in the vault on the left.
Wandering Jana 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.
Wandering Jana Some of Savannah’s leading African Americans were buried here.
Wandering Jana Some of the tombs are more elaborate.
Wandering Jana Some are not.
Wandering Jana 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.
Wandering Jana Pretty similar to Bonaventure.
Wandering Jana Not as much vegetation, but still gorgeous.
Wandering Jana There are several large brick burial vaults and mausoleums.
Wandering Jana Also a great place to go for a walk.
Wandering Jana A husband a wife (died 1833) that were originally buried in the South Broad Street Cemetery and reinterred here in 1886.
Wandering Jana Love it. So much better than some of those boring cemeteries that have no trees.
Wandering Jana Gorgeous.
Wandering Jana I love a good old cemetery.
Wandering Jana Love this.
Wandering Jana 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.
Wandering Jana 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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