What is it about cemeteries that gets us curious, or for some of us, scared ?. Could it be their history or maybe the long lost soul's who inhabit them either way, we all find them fascinating and maybe even a little weird.
Here you'll find America's top spooky cemeteries along with some weird and interesting photo's. Hope you enjoy.
Established in 1789, St. Louis No. 1 is the oldest extant cemetery in New Orleans. It is located on Basin street one block from the border of the French Quarter. It was built when New Orleans was under Spanish control, so the wall vault system that was popular in Spain at that time was used. This method was also practical since New Orleans is under sea level and below ground burials caused caskets to float. The city was in serious need of burial space because of the fire in 1788 that destroyed more than 80% of the city in one night. There was also a flood as well as the infamous yellow fever epedimic that crowded the city's first cemetery on St. Peter street. The rise of dead bodies was so high that the cemetery workers were constantly intoxicated with liquor to tolerate the stench of the deceased.
There are many notable figures buried here, one of the most notable is the famous Voodoo queen Marie Laveau who died in 1881. When visiting this tomb it s common practice to leave offerings and mark the Gris Gris XXX's on the tomb. Marie's daughter is also buried here she has the same name as her mother so be careful not to confuse them.
St. Louis Cemetery #1 is said to be one of the most haunted cemeteries in Louisiana.
It is said to be haunted by the spirits of Marie Laveau and her daughter.
This picture is of Marie Laveau's tomb this shadow was not here when the picture was taken, could this be her spirit?.
Resurrection Cemetery, Chicago Illinois: Resurrection Cemetery is a large Catholic cemetery in the southwest suburbs, adjacent to Bethania on Archer Avenue. The older sections have stones dating back to the 1890s, but most burials there are more recent. The cemetery is very modern, dominated by a huge mausoleum, an outdoor garden mausoleum, and numerous "shrine sections" where a central figure of a religious theme is surrounded by flat markers.
This cemetery is mostly know for the female spirit that inhabits it, her name Resurrection Mary. The story goes that Mary was either 17 or 22 when she was walking back from the O'Henry Ballroom when she was struck and killed by a passing automobile. The driver fled the scene and left Mary to die.
Her grieving parents buried her in Resurrection cemetery, wearing a white dress and her dancing shoes. Since that time, her spirit has been seen along Archer Avenue, and the old Ballroom.
Most people claim to see her walking along the road, some have even claimed to dance with her and give her a ride but as they pass by the cemetery she tell's them to stop and she gets out only to disappear at the gates of the cemetery. Others claim that while they were driving past the cemetery Mary would run out in front of their car, some claim to also feel the impact, but when they get out of the car to check on her she is gone with no trace left of what happened.
Bachelor's Grove Cemetery was chosen to be a burial ground in 1844, however the earliest death date noticed on a tombstone is that of William Nobles who died in 1838.
The last known burial there was in 1989, the cemetery is now inactive.
Due to the Isolated location of the cemetery along on old road it now face's vandalism and satanic rituals.
The last known burial there was in 1989, the cemetery is now inactive.
Due to the Isolated location of the cemetery along on old road it now face's vandalism and satanic rituals.
In the early 1970s, vandalism developed from a scattered littering to full on destruction of tombstones and trees. Of the estimated 200 tombstones that once were in the cemetery, only 20 remain: the ones that are too heavy to be moved. In addition to that, several graves were dug up, forcing those in charge to set the tombs in concrete for protection. Today the small patch of land sits quiet, and for the most part unused.
It is also said that this cemetery is one of the most haunted. Witnesses report seeing multipile figures emerging throughout the cemetery dressed in monks robes, also reported is that of a black dog at the entrance which disappears when approached.
Other reports are of people seeing glowing orbs or balls, apparitions, squeaks, moans, groans and unexplained noises. Its adjacent pond is also known for unsubstantiated mafia affiliation with Al Capone.
(by far the most famous picture taken at Bachelor's Grove, this girl was not sitting her when the picture was taken.)
Greenwood Cemetery, Decatur Illinois:
It was officially established in 1857, but no one really knows when it was started, burials took place there as far as the 1820's. After nearly a century, the graveyard was in poor condition. The grounds were overgrown and grave robbery was common.
One of Greenwood's haunted and lost locations is the old mausoleum, which was torn down in 1967. The building had been in terrible condition at the time and rumors circulated of strange screams and lights that could not be explained. The mausoleum was emptied prior to being torn down and unclaimed bodies were placed in a common grave across the road. Recent paranormal investigations have detected strange activity is still emanating from this location.
Greenwood's most notorious haunted spot is in the Civil War section. During the war, Decatur was frequently visited by prison trains carrying Confederate prisoners to camps. One of these trains contained a number of men who had died from Yellow Fever while en route. The railroad tracks passed close to the cemetery so a wagon was used to carry away the dead. The prisoners were buried in an unmarked grave on the side of a hill near where the War Memorial section is today. The grave was quickly dug, but in the haste, it is believed that some of those soldiers may not have actually been dead.
Another of Greenwood's legends are the ghost lights that have appeared for several generations on the southern edge of the graveyard. The lights are said to be the spirits of lost souls whose bodies were washed away by a flood many years ago. The spirits are said to be searching for the places where their bodies are now buried.
El Campo Santo Cemetery, San Diego California:
This cemetery was established in 1849 and it is San Diego's second oldest cemetery.
In all 477 bodies were buried here, but not all of them stayed within the walls of the cemetery, some of them were paved over by San Diego Avenue.
People who leave their cars parked in front of the cemetery (on top of the many graves) ofetn find them hard to start afterwards. Car alarms can often be heard from the cars parked here.
People visiting the cemetery report feeling an icy chill when they walk through some spots. Some describe the chill as if walking through a freezer.
In the evenings, what looks like an Hispanic or Native American can be seen floating just above the ground. Also a misty, glowing figure can sometimes be seen drifting along the sidewalk, just outside the cemetery wall.
Some report seeing a woman in a white victorian costume along the south wall.
The Easton Baptist Church stands to the right of the cemetery and was built in the 1840's.
El Campo Santo Cemetery, San Diego California:
This cemetery was established in 1849 and it is San Diego's second oldest cemetery.
In all 477 bodies were buried here, but not all of them stayed within the walls of the cemetery, some of them were paved over by San Diego Avenue.
People who leave their cars parked in front of the cemetery (on top of the many graves) ofetn find them hard to start afterwards. Car alarms can often be heard from the cars parked here.
People visiting the cemetery report feeling an icy chill when they walk through some spots. Some describe the chill as if walking through a freezer.
In the evenings, what looks like an Hispanic or Native American can be seen floating just above the ground. Also a misty, glowing figure can sometimes be seen drifting along the sidewalk, just outside the cemetery wall.
Some report seeing a woman in a white victorian costume along the south wall.
This is one of the oldest cemeteries in Los Angeles, it was founded in 1899.
Not only is this cemetery the resting place for hundreds of Hollywood's stars and other famous persons, but it remains a fully operating cemetery to this day still performing new burials and cremations every week.
Some of the famous stars buried here include Douglas Fairbanks, Tyrone Power, Peter Lorre, Marion Davies, Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer, Charlie Chaplin Jr, and Rudolph Valentino. Recent additions, in the past few years, include Fay Wray of King Kong and guitarist Johnny Ramone.
The cemetery is said to be haunted not only by the spirits of the people buried here but by others as well, some of the spirits include
The Lady in Black she visits the grave of Rudolph Valentino bringing him flowers and dusting off the name tag on his tomb. Even in life a woman dressed from head to toe in black visited his grave every year with a single red rose.
Many women came forward claiming to be the real lady in black most of these women said that Valentino proposed marriage to them, one such woman Marian Watson claimed that Valentino proposed marriage to her and that he was also the father of one of her children. Other women also came forward with other outlandish claims. Finally a woman
named Ditra Flame came forward. Supposedly when Ditra was very young, she became seriously ill and was in the hospital. Valentino was friends with Ditra's mother and came to visit the sick girl, bringing her a single red rose. He told her "You're not going to die at all. You are going to outlive me by many years. But one thing for sure - if I die before you do, you please come and stay by me because I don't want to be alone, either. You come and talk to me." Ditra recovered shortly after Valentino's visit, and after he passed away, remembered what he said, visiting him yearly, but never publicizing her story. By 1954, she sadly became one of many Ladies in Black visiting his grave, causing an annual memorial service. Frustrated at the large production that was being made out of her annual trip; she stopped visiting for many years before resuming, wearing street clothing in 1977. In 1984 she passed away, and was buried in San Jacinto, CA, her tombstone identifying her as the Lady in Black.
Also haunting the cemetery is supposedly the ghost of Clifton Webb who died in 1966. Webb, the original "Mr. Belvedere" in three different movies released between 1948 and 1951, haunts the Abbey of the Psalms mausoleum. Strange lights, drafts of cold air, smells of cologne, and whispered voices have also been reported coming from or in the mausoleum.
The last spirit said to reside with Hollywood Forever's walls is the ghost of Virginia Rappe. Virginia Rappe attended a party on Labor Day in 1921 in San Francisco at the Saint Francis Hotel. The party was in celebration of a recent contract that Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, a famous comedian and actor at the time, had recently acquired. During the party, Rappe became ill; an ambulance was required to come get her, and a few days later she died at the age of 26. A scandal immediately ensued with claims that Arbuckle had raped the young Virginia. After three amazing trials (the first two ended up with hung juries), Arbuckle was eventually found not guilty, but his career never recovered. Now, in Hollywood Forever Cemetery an icy coldness seems to surround the site of her grave. Additionally the sound of sobbing has been heard in the area as well.
Peck Cemetery, Decatur Illinois:
It was started by the family of Daniel Peck, who came to the area from Ohio in 1850. The cemetery is located in the northeast corner of Macon County and is very isolated. It cannot be seen from the road and is surrounded by an iron fence and heavy woods.
Peck cemetery has a sinister and dreadful feel about it. Since the 1970's, it has been a popular hangout spot for teenagers, many of whom foolishly damage and destroy the grave markers. There have also been reports of Cultists practicing in the cemetery as well.
There have been many reports of strange lights, apparitions and events coming out of Peck cemetery for more then two decades.
(This picture was taken at the cemetery, there were only two people there at the time and they both claim that they were not standing in the picture.)
Boot Hill Cemetery, Tombstone Arizona:
Formerly called The Tombstone Cemetery, the plot features the graves of Billy Clanton, Frank McLaury and Tom McLaury; the three men were killed during the famed gunfight at the O.K Corral.
Located on the northwest corner of the town, the graveyard is believed to hold over 300 persons, 205 of which are recorded. This is due to some people (especially Chinese and Jewish immigrants) being buried without record. However, most of the loss was due to neglect of grave markers and theft of these wooden relics as souvenirs. The Tombstone "boothill" cemetery was closed in late 1884, as the new "City Cemetery" on Allen Street opened. Thereafter, Boothill was referred to as the "old city cemetery" and neglected. It was used after that only to bury a few later outlaws (some legally hanged and one shot in a robbery), as well as a few colorful Western characters and one man (Emmett Crook Nunnally) who had spent many volunteer hours restoring it.
Union contains graves and fieldstones dating back to the 1600's and up to and including present day burials. Peck Cemetery, Decatur Illinois:
It was started by the family of Daniel Peck, who came to the area from Ohio in 1850. The cemetery is located in the northeast corner of Macon County and is very isolated. It cannot be seen from the road and is surrounded by an iron fence and heavy woods.
Peck cemetery has a sinister and dreadful feel about it. Since the 1970's, it has been a popular hangout spot for teenagers, many of whom foolishly damage and destroy the grave markers. There have also been reports of Cultists practicing in the cemetery as well.
There have been many reports of strange lights, apparitions and events coming out of Peck cemetery for more then two decades.
(This picture was taken at the cemetery, there were only two people there at the time and they both claim that they were not standing in the picture.)
Boot Hill Cemetery, Tombstone Arizona:
Formerly called The Tombstone Cemetery, the plot features the graves of Billy Clanton, Frank McLaury and Tom McLaury; the three men were killed during the famed gunfight at the O.K Corral.
Located on the northwest corner of the town, the graveyard is believed to hold over 300 persons, 205 of which are recorded. This is due to some people (especially Chinese and Jewish immigrants) being buried without record. However, most of the loss was due to neglect of grave markers and theft of these wooden relics as souvenirs. The Tombstone "boothill" cemetery was closed in late 1884, as the new "City Cemetery" on Allen Street opened. Thereafter, Boothill was referred to as the "old city cemetery" and neglected. It was used after that only to bury a few later outlaws (some legally hanged and one shot in a robbery), as well as a few colorful Western characters and one man (Emmett Crook Nunnally) who had spent many volunteer hours restoring it.
Another thing to note here is the humorous headstones placed here such as these two:
The Easton Baptist Church stands to the right of the cemetery and was built in the 1840's.
There are many stories about this cemetery, people who have visited there have claimed to see full body apparitions and orbs to strange odors. The most famous story is that of The White Lady of Easton. She has been reportedly seen in and around the graveyard for over 60 years now. She usually appears in a white nightgown or wedding dress. There are many different stories of why she is there and what caused her death. One story states she had died giving birth. Another states that it was a murder, but no one really knows for sure.
Red Eyes have also been seen in the cemetery, one man walking past the cemetery claimed he seen red eyes staring at him through the bushes, when he took off running he said he heard footsteps following him.
Silver Cliff Cemetery, Colorado:
It was established in the early 1880's outside of Silver Cliff, Colorado about one-half mile south of Colorado State Highway 96 on Mill Street.
The cemetery is split into two sections, one half for Catholic burials and the other half, known as the cross of the Assumption cemetery, for Protestant burials. The cemetery is still in use today and is owned and operated by the town of Silver Cliff.
The cemetery is best known for it's mysterious dancing blue lights. The lights, which according to reports look like blue lantern lights or white spheres, are said to float through the cemetery and bounce on the headstones.
Bonaventure cemetery, Savannah Georgia:
The cemetery is located on a scenic bluff of the Wilmington River, east of Savannah Georgia. The cemetery became famous when it was featured in the 1994 novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt, and in the movie, directed by Clint Eastwood.
It is he largest of the city's municipal cemeteries, containing nearly 160 acres.
The cemetery is located on the site of a plantation originally owned by John Mullryne. March 10, 1846, Commodore Josiah Tattnall III, sold the 600 acre Bonaventure Plantation and its privet cemetery to Peter Wiltberger. Major William H. Wiltberger, the son of Peter, formed the Evergreen Cemetery Company on June 12, 1868. Evergreen Cemetery Company was purchased by the city of Savannah on July 7, 1907, making the cemetery public and changing it to Bonaventure Cemetery.
Silver Cliff Cemetery, Colorado:
It was established in the early 1880's outside of Silver Cliff, Colorado about one-half mile south of Colorado State Highway 96 on Mill Street.
The cemetery is split into two sections, one half for Catholic burials and the other half, known as the cross of the Assumption cemetery, for Protestant burials. The cemetery is still in use today and is owned and operated by the town of Silver Cliff.
The cemetery is best known for it's mysterious dancing blue lights. The lights, which according to reports look like blue lantern lights or white spheres, are said to float through the cemetery and bounce on the headstones.
Bonaventure cemetery, Savannah Georgia:
The cemetery is located on a scenic bluff of the Wilmington River, east of Savannah Georgia. The cemetery became famous when it was featured in the 1994 novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt, and in the movie, directed by Clint Eastwood.
It is he largest of the city's municipal cemeteries, containing nearly 160 acres.
The cemetery is located on the site of a plantation originally owned by John Mullryne. March 10, 1846, Commodore Josiah Tattnall III, sold the 600 acre Bonaventure Plantation and its privet cemetery to Peter Wiltberger. Major William H. Wiltberger, the son of Peter, formed the Evergreen Cemetery Company on June 12, 1868. Evergreen Cemetery Company was purchased by the city of Savannah on July 7, 1907, making the cemetery public and changing it to Bonaventure Cemetery.
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