These 7 Haunted Cemeteries In Virginia Are Not For the Faint of Heart
By Beth|Published July 30, 2016
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Beth
Author
A lifelong Virginia resident, Beth loves exploring different parts of the world and currently resides in Charlottesville. She holds a degree in English Literature and one of her short stories has been featured in the Shenandoah Review. Other interests include hiking, songwriting, and spending time in the mountains.
There’s a reason why cemeteries are iconic for horror movies, ghost stories, and chilling tales. There’s also a reason why they’re some of the most breathtaking and reverent sites to visit in the country. Virginia has a host of cemeteries, and they evoke a mix of all these feelings. You may recall an article published last year, covering 10 Cemeteries In Virginia That Will Give You Goosebumps. We’ve got a few more to add to the list, and some others to repeat. Whether you feel chills down your spine from the historical significance or the hair on your arm stands up due to a eerie breeze, the following grave sites are sure to strike a chord.
The oldest tombstone at Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg reads 1702. This is the final resting site of 30,000 Confederate soldiers who were killed in the Seige of Petersburg. In fact, there are veterans from every American war here. This is the second-largest cemetery in Virginia after Arlington National Cemetery.
Norfolk's Forest Lawn Cemetery was created in 1906 and encompasses over 165 acres of land. This cemetery also functions as an arboretum with dogwoods, hollies, maples, crape myrtles, and more. Many commemorative ceremonies are held on these grounds, especially on Memorial Day and Veteran's Day.
The historic Thornrose Cemetery was established in 1853. After the Civil War, a new section was established as the Augusta Memorial Association. Thornrose is noteworthy for its beautiful grounds, including above-ground vaults and graceful statues. Ghost tours of Staunton often include a visit to Thornrose.
The People's Memorial Cemetery is located just adjacent to the Blandford Cemetery. This historic African-American cemetery was first started in 1840. A portion of the site already had existed for slaves who had lost their lives during the War of 1812. In 2008, the site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
On the Monticello property, Jefferson plotted out a cemetery for his family and relatives. Jefferson's lifelong friend Dabney Carr was the first to be buried in the cemetery in 1773. The ghost of Jefferson is rumored to wander around the property whistling.
The Laurel Grove Cemetery is also known as the Ramsey Cemetery or the Ramsey Family Cemetery. Located in Norton, there is something distinctively eerie about this relatively small site. Some visitors report an unusually cold temperature around the cemetery at night as well as the sounds of rustling leaves.
This Civil War cemetery was established in 1857 and is also referred to as Rooster Hill, Maryland Hill and City Cemetery. The cemetery is located right on the border of Bristol, Tennessee and Bristol, Virginia. Among the buried include fallen Confederate soldiers, African-Americans, and those who survived the war. There's also a haunting burial section dedicated to the Confederate unknown.
Do you find these cemeteries to be haunting, peaceful, or perhaps a little of both? Feel free to share some of your favorite cemeteries, or any that may have missed this list or the earlier list.
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