1. Hollywood Forever Cemetery – Los Angeles, California
Hollywood Forever is known for its star-studded burials, but locals will tell you the glamour hasn’t kept the spirits at rest. Rudolph Valentino, one of the most iconic silent film stars, is said to have a “Lady in Black” who visits his grave, even long after the original mourner passed away. There are also tales of faint music drifting from the mausoleums when no one is around. Security guards claim they’ve caught glimpses of wandering figures near the reflecting pool.
The grounds themselves feel oddly alive, especially at night when the Los Angeles skyline flickers nearby. Concerts and movie screenings take place here, making it a cemetery where the living and the dead almost seem to coexist. That unique energy seems to have stirred up activity beyond the ordinary. Many Angelinos insist Hollywood Forever is one of the few cemeteries where the line between celebration and haunting is always blurred.
2. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 – New Orleans, Louisiana
If you’ve ever wandered through the French Quarter, you’ve probably felt the lure of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. It’s one of the oldest burial grounds in New Orleans, and the tombs here are above ground, giving the place a haunting, maze-like quality. Locals whisper about the ghost of Marie Laveau, the city’s famed “Voodoo Queen,” still lingering near her family crypt. Some visitors even report hearing soft chanting or feeling sudden chills as they pass her resting place.
This cemetery’s energy is said to be restless because of its long, turbulent history. Fires, floods, and even body relocations have marked the site since the 1700s, leaving many spirits unsettled. Tour guides often insist that it’s impossible to walk the narrow paths without feeling like you’re being watched. For New Orleans residents, the cemetery is less a landmark and more a reminder that the city’s past never truly stays buried.
3. Green-Wood Cemetery – Brooklyn, New York
Spanning over 400 acres, Green-Wood is as much a park as it is a burial ground. It’s the final resting place for Civil War generals, famous artists, and even mobsters, which makes its stories diverse and chilling. Visitors claim to see soldiers wandering in the distance or hear unexplained gunfire echoing through the trees. The Gothic entrance alone sets a tone that feels like you’ve stepped into another world.
What really unsettles locals, though, are the spectral sightings around the Civil War monuments. Many say the sheer number of battle dead laid to rest here makes the ground uneasy. Add in the fact that the cemetery is perched on one of the highest points in Brooklyn—once a battlefield during the Revolutionary War—and the energy makes sense. Green-Wood isn’t just quiet history; it’s layered with restless echoes of conflict.
4. Resurrection Cemetery – Justice, Illinois
If you’ve ever driven outside Chicago, you’ve likely heard of Resurrection Mary. She’s the classic “vanishing hitchhiker,” a young woman said to appear along Archer Avenue near Resurrection Cemetery. Drivers report picking her up, only for her to disappear before reaching the gates. Inside the cemetery itself, glowing lights and unexplained cold spots are common.
The legend dates back to the 1930s, and it hasn’t faded with time. Locals swear they’ve seen Mary pressed against the iron bars of the cemetery, even leaving handprints on the metal. This particular story gives the cemetery a folkloric quality that feels both eerie and deeply rooted in community lore. For Chicagoans, Resurrection Cemetery isn’t just a burial ground—it’s a place where the city’s most famous ghost story lives on.
5. Bonaventure Cemetery – Savannah, Georgia
Made famous by the book “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” Bonaventure Cemetery already carries a reputation for the otherworldly. Its live oaks draped in Spanish moss give the place an ethereal, almost cinematic feel. Visitors often report seeing shadowy figures drifting between the elaborate headstones. The “Bird Girl” statue, once photographed for the book cover, added to the cemetery’s mystique before being moved for safekeeping.
The cemetery’s most unsettling stories center on the grave of Gracie Watson, a six-year-old who died in 1889. Her life-size statue is said to cry actual tears, and visitors leave toys in hopes of comforting her spirit. Some say they hear the laughter of a child carried on the wind, even when no children are present. For Savannah locals, Bonaventure isn’t just gorgeous—it’s alive with the echoes of its most tragic stories.
6. Arlington National Cemetery – Arlington, Virginia
On the surface, Arlington might seem too formal and sacred for ghost stories, but locals will tell you otherwise. Thousands of soldiers rest here, and with that comes a weight of history that feels heavy in the air. Some visitors have reported phantom footsteps while walking the perfectly aligned rows of headstones. Others describe a sense of being followed, especially near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
What makes Arlington unique is that its energy is tied to honor and duty. The constant presence of the ceremonial guard only amplifies the eerie stillness. Some claim the “Old Guard” has had experiences they don’t speak about, involving shadows that move when no one is around. It’s not a place of horror, but one of reverence where the past quietly presses into the present.
7. Key West Cemetery – Key West, Florida
The Key West Cemetery is quirky by design, reflecting the island’s unusual sense of humor. Epitaphs like “I Told You I Was Sick” are etched into headstones, but behind the humor are darker tales. Locals say spirits roam freely here, especially after hurricanes disturb old graves. Visitors sometimes feel tugged at by invisible hands while exploring the uneven pathways.
One of the most unsettling legends involves the ghost of a Bahamian woman accused of witchcraft. She is said to wander near the graves at night, her presence marked by sudden drops in temperature. Others talk about a ghostly army of cats that patrols the grounds, leading some to believe they’re guardians of the dead. The Key West Cemetery, much like the island itself, refuses to be ordinary—even in its hauntings.
8. Old Burying Point Cemetery – Salem, Massachusetts
Given Salem’s witch trial history, it’s no surprise this cemetery is steeped in ghostly lore. Established in 1637, it’s one of the oldest in the U.S. and holds the graves of trial judges and notable town figures. Visitors often sense an oppressive energy here, especially near Judge John Hathorne’s headstone. Some claim shadows flit between the stones even in daylight.
Locals say the spirits tied to the witch trials are the most restless. Victims of the trials were not buried here but nearby, yet the association lingers. Tourists on ghost walks frequently capture strange orbs in their photos. For Salem residents, Old Burying Point is a reminder that history’s injustices don’t fade quietly.
9. Gettysburg National Cemetery – Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
The battle of Gettysburg left over 50,000 casualties, and the cemetery here is at the heart of that history. Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address on these grounds, adding a layer of national reverence. Still, many visitors report eerie whispers and the sounds of marching when the area is otherwise empty. The weight of so much loss is impossible to ignore.
Locals and reenactors alike have told stories of ghostly soldiers appearing in photos. The cemetery is particularly active at dusk, when fog rolls across the fields. People have described the sensation of being surrounded by invisible crowds, as if the battle never fully ended. In Gettysburg, the past clings tightly, and the cemetery is its most haunting focal point.
10. Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery – Midlothian, Illinois
Bachelor’s Grove has been called one of the most haunted cemeteries in America. Hidden in the woods outside Chicago, it’s small but packed with legends. Ghost cars, phantom monks, and mysterious blue lights are just some of the stories tied to this eerie patch of land. The “White Lady” apparition is said to carry an infant as she drifts among the graves.
The cemetery fell into neglect for years, which only amplified its atmosphere. Many believe the unkempt grounds and alleged occult activity attracted restless spirits. Paranormal investigators have captured strange photographs here, including the famous “woman on the bench” image. For locals, Bachelor’s Grove is less about mourning the dead and more about facing the unknown.
11. Stull Cemetery – Stull, Kansas
Stull Cemetery is infamous for being linked to urban legends about the devil himself. Locals once whispered that it was one of the “Seven Gateways to Hell.” While much of the lore is exaggerated, there’s no denying the place has a heavy, unsettling vibe. Even standing near its crumbling church ruins feels eerie.
Stories claim strange winds whip through the grounds without warning. Some visitors swear they’ve seen dark figures darting between the gravestones. Others insist time itself feels distorted there, with watches and electronics malfunctioning. Whether or not you believe the satanic tales, Stull has a reputation in Kansas that’s impossible to shake.
12. Lake View Cemetery – Cleveland, Ohio
Lake View is known for its beauty, with sprawling grounds and the striking Garfield Memorial. But beneath the peaceful surface, Clevelanders say the spirits haven’t all moved on. The most famous ghost is “Haserot the Angel,” a statue that appears to weep black tears caused by weathering bronze. At night, people say the angel’s eyes seem to follow you.
The cemetery’s long history means countless stories have taken root. Some claim to see spectral processions along the pathways, as if funerals are replaying in another dimension. Others report hearing faint organ music drifting from nowhere. For locals, Lake View is as much about eerie encounters as it is about honoring history.
This post 12 U.S. Cemeteries Where Locals Swear the Ground “Never Stays Quiet” was first published on American Charm.
