Les 25 cimetières les plus envoûtants d'Amérique

America's Most Beautiful Cemeteries

It’s not only ghosts who haunt cemeteries. You, too, can spend time in some of our nation’s most beautiful and storied burial grounds, dating back to the Civil War and earlier. Fall is the perfect time of year to wander through the gardens, monuments, and tombstones of this collection of lovely, historically significant graveyards.

Forest Hills Cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts

A jewel in Boston’s Emerald Necklace of parks and green spaces, Forest Hills comprises more than 275 acres of outdoor art and gardens. A walk through this living memorial, opened in 1848, takes you past the graves of many notable Americans, including abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison and suffragist Lucy Stone.

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Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Tarrytown, New York

For a truly authentic experience, read Washington Irving’s spooky short story, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” while sitting under a tree in the original Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. This is, after all, where the famous author is buried, not far from the Old Dutch Church that inspired such memorable characters as Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman.

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Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia

Arlington National Cemetery is an intensely moving tribute to American military service. The cemetery was established during the Civil War, and today rows upon rows of white headstones covering the grassy hills stand in solemn homage to the more than 400,000 members of the military who are buried there.

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Trinity Church Cemetery in New York City

This urban graveyard in the heart of Wall Street dates back to the 17th century. Today, it offers visitors tree-lined walkways and a welcome breath of fresh air amid skyscrapers and hurried lives. A stroll through this National Historic Landmark is like a walk through American history, as this is the final resting place of assorted delegates to the Continental Congress, one signer of the Declaration of Independence, and founding father Alexander Hamilton.

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Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Laurel Hill, which opened in 1836, contains more than 33,000 monuments and sculptures, including one by Alexander Calder. The cemetery is the eternal home of many noteworthy Philadelphians and more than its share of Civil War-era generals—yet it also has a knack for fun. Among the events offered at this National Historic Landmark are the annual Rest in Peace 5k, Fall Family Day, and Haunted Halloween History Tours. 

Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia

A literary and cinematic landmark, Bonaventure Cemetery is noted for its role in “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” John Berendt’s Southern Gothic novel. Created in 1846 on the site of a former plantation, the cemetery once served as cheap “lodgings” for conservationist John Muir, who in 1867 spent six nights sleeping on graves, an inspiring experience he related in “Camping Among the Tombs,” a chapter in his 1916 account, “A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf.”

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Graceland Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois

This Victorian-era cemetery is aptly named: The large family lots, imposing monuments, and “landscape rooms” purchased and erected by wealthy Chicagoans give the cemetery a gracious, pastoral air. “Residents” include retail magnate Marshall Field and architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.

Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn

Spend a day meandering the 478 rolling acres of Green-Wood, a National Historic Landmark where conductor Leonard Bernstein and machine politician Boss Tweed are buried, along with approximately 600,000 others. Visitors can enjoy bird-watching, Historic Trolley Tours of the sprawling grounds, and a host of special programs at this cemetery that was established back in 1838.

Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, California

For film buffs and star-gazers alike, there is no better place than Hollywood Forever, founded in 1899. The roster of permanent denizens of this cemetery reads like a who’s who of screen legends, including Douglas Fairbanks and Judy Garland.

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San Francisco National Cemetery in San Francisco

With stunning views of San Francisco Bay and a history dating back to the site’s first settlement in 1776, this national cemetery—the first on the West Coast—is dotted with eucalyptus trees and Spanish Revival buildings. The first known American was buried here in 1854, and it became a national cemetery in 1884. Today, it is the final resting place of more than 30,000 soldiers.

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Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California

This military burial ground was dedicated on Memorial Day in 1942 by then-Attorney General Earl Warren, later Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Every year on Memorial Day, an elaborate flag ceremony pays tribute to veterans, living and departed. A carillon donated by the American Veterans chimes background music for this beautiful cemetery bathed in California sunshine.

Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, California

Is it a cemetery or a nature preserve? Mountain View stretches across 226 acres of gorgeous Bay-area property, with seasonal gardens, flowering trees, clear pools, and stately monuments along the grassy slopes. Guests can even book weddings in these lush, eloquent surroundings.

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Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California

Though its history reaches back to the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), Fort Rosecrans didn’t become a national military cemetery until 1934. Monuments and memorials to those who died for our country pay tribute to human tragedy, international flash points, and famous battles, including the Battle of Guadalcanal, the Battle of San Pasqual, and the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky

One of America’s earliest “garden” (or rural) cemeteries, Cave Hill first became a graveyard in 1846. By creating cultivated, beautifully landscaped spaces for contemplation and remembrance, its founders wished to change the way the public viewed cemeteries 

Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester, New York

Fall foliage is exquisite at Mount Hope, as one would expect with 196 acres of forestland. Graves date back 175 years, but the cemetery is forward-looking in its care for the earth, offering green burial options that include a Garden of Renewal, where loved ones are interred “in a simpler fashion.”

Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana

In 1863, Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation—and Crown Hill Cemetery opened its gates. The cemetery is truly a testament to democracy; you will find people of all kinds here, from President Benjamin Harrison to criminals and unknowns.

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Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx

At Woodlawn, yet another Civil War-era cemetery that is also a National Historic Landmark, visitors can pay tribute to some of our nation’s favorite artists, writers, civic leaders, and musicians. Novelist Herman Melville, poet Countee Cullen, and many jazz legends are buried here.

Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia

There’s no better place to begin your exploration of Atlanta than Oakland Cemetery. History converges under the oaks and magnolias, where both Civil War soldiers and Civil Rights leaders are interred. Art history buffs will enjoy the architecture, which borrows from Greek, Egyptian, and Victorian themes.

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Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

All are welcome at Oak Hill, a nondenominational cemetery that serves people of all backgrounds and beliefs. It is also a living classroom where visitors can learn the intimate backstory of America. For example, the sons of both President Lincoln and Confederate leader Jefferson Davis were once buried in Oak Hill, although both were later removed and reinterred elsewhere.

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Récif commémoratif de Neptune à Key Biscayne, Floride

Vous aurez besoin d’une combinaison et d’un permis de plongée pour explorer ce cimetière. Le Neptune Memorial Reef est le plus grand récif artificiel du monde et un cimetière sous-marin. Les restes incinérés sont utilisés pour construire le récif, qui se trouve à 40 pieds sous la surface. Les visiteurs peuvent s’y rendre en bateau ou en plongée sous-marine.

Granary Burying Ground à Boston, Massachusetts

Le Granary Burial Ground est l’un des nombreux sites historiques qui jalonnent le Freedom Trail à Boston. Fondé en 1660, ce troisième plus ancien cimetière compte environ 2 345 tombes, mais on estime que plus de 5 000 personnes y sont enterrées. Parmi les grands noms de l’histoire américaine qui reposent à Granary, citons Samuel Adams, John Hancock et Paul Revere.

Cimetière de Key West à Key West, Floride

Bien qu’il s’agisse d’une petite ville côtière, on estime qu’environ 100 000 corps sont enterrés au cimetière de Key West. Ce cimetière a attiré l’attention pour ses épitaphes humoristiques. En effet, parmi les tombes se trouve un mémorial pour l’U.S.S. Maine, qui a explosé dans le port de La Havane en 1898, tuant 260 marins américains.

Cimetière Lake View à Cleveland, Ohio

Ouvert en 1869, le cimetière de Lake View à Cleveland s’inscrit dans la tendance à créer des cimetières qui ressemblent à des parcs. Le grand cimetière de Lake View est la dernière demeure de John D. Rockefeller et d’autres membres de la famille Rockefeller. Il abrite également le James A. Garfield Monument, la pierre tombale et le mémorial du président Garfield.

Cimetière Lafayette n° 1 à la Nouvelle-Orléans, Louisiane