Since the South is an area steeped with history, it makes sense that there would be plenty of spooky stories. In honor of Halloween, we’re sharing our picks for the South’s spookiest cemeteries. You can explore these cities of the dead and find the graves of the city’s notable residents and could even spot a ghost.
Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta, Georgia
As one of Atlanta‘s oldest cemeteries, this site is the final resting place for the most notable residents, including former mayors, Confederate soldiers, writer Margaret Mitchell, and golfer Bobby Jones. They run tours for $10 and even do Halloween tours.
Book a spot on the ‘Gone With the Wind and Margaret Mitchell’s Atlanta’ – Private Tour, which visits the cemetery and other locations.
Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia
Set along a bluff of the Wilmington River in Savannah, Bonaventure Cemetery gained notoriety for its role in the 1994 novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Among the buried are musician Johnny Mercer, who was mentioned in the book, as well as writer Conrad Aiken and many Georgia governors.
Book a spot on the Bonaventure Cemetery Tours.
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, New Orleans, Louisiana
While there are dozens of creepy above-ground cemeteries in New Orleans, we picked St. Louis #1 for one of its famous residents, Voodoo priestess Marie Laveau, pictured above. The cemetery is one of the oldest in the city, dating back to 1789, and was once outside of the city limits, but is now within walking distance of downtown.
Book your spot on the New Orleans Cemetery History Tour.
Magnolia Cemetery Trust, Charleston, South Carolina
Magnolia Cemetery is one of the lesser-known historic sites in an otherwise well-touristed city. Tucked along the banks of the river right before you reach North Charleston, Magnolia is home to the city’s most notable families who have named the streets and bridges. It’s also the final resting place of the crews of the Hunley, a Civil War submarine that sunk three times and was recovered in 2000.
Book your spot on the Magnolia Cemetery Nighttime Tour.
Rose Hill Cemetery, Macon, Georgia
Built in 1840, Rose Hill is Macon‘s most famous cemetery. Visitors flock here mostly to see the gravesites of Allman Brothers Band members Berry Oakley and Duane Allman. Also buried here is Eugenia Tucker Fitzgerald, founder of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority and architect Neel Reid.
Old Gray Cemetery, Knoxville, Tennessee
While it may seem odd to visit a cemetery while in Knoxville, Old Gray Cemetery is home to Civil War graves as well as those of notable locals. The 13-acre historic site, built in 1851, is also a beautiful place to walk, as it’s covered in trees.
Andersonville National Cemetery, Andersonville, Georgia
Andersonville National Historic Site is where thousands of Union soldiers were held as prisoners during the Civil War. Conditions were notoriously grim and visitors can learn about prisoners of war at the museum.
The attached cemetery is where the Union soldiers that died here were reburied after the war but over 900 are unmarked as “unknown.” More recent veterans and their families are also buried here.
Other Cemetery Tours to Check Out
- Pensacola Walking Cemetery Tour
- Arlington National Cemetery Guided Walking Tour
- 1.5-Hour Cemetery Ghost Hunt in Chattanooga
- Hollywood Cemetery Segway Tour in Richmond
- Williamsburg Cemetery Tour
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The Hunley was a submarine not a battlesship.