1. Lake View Cemetery – Cleveland, Ohio
Lake View is best known for housing the incredible James A. Garfield Memorial, which is more cathedral than tomb. It’s also where oil magnate John D. Rockefeller and crime-busting Eliot Ness are buried. The cemetery has rolling hills, gardens, and some of the most intricate mausoleums in the Midwest. It was founded in 1869 and remains a civic treasure.
Visitors can actually climb the Garfield monument and take in panoramic views of Cleveland. It also features a chapel with Tiffany stained glass windows. The combination of presidential history and natural beauty makes it a hidden gem. It’s one of those places that surprises you with how much it offers.
2. Arlington National Cemetery – Arlington, Virginia
Arlington isn’t just a resting place; it’s one of the most solemn and awe-inspiring sites in the country, according to Lonely Planet. Over 400,000 military service members, veterans, and their families are buried here, including two U.S. Presidents. The changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a powerful ceremony that draws visitors daily. Walking its grounds is like stepping through the pages of American history.
What makes it a tourist magnet is how much it captures the magnitude of sacrifice. You’ll see people from all over the world, hushed and reverent, exploring the rows of white headstones. Famous sites within the cemetery include the graves of John F. Kennedy and Robert E. Lee’s former mansion. It’s as much a memorial as it is a place of mourning.
3. Forest Lawn Memorial Park – Glendale, California
This cemetery blends Hollywood glamor with serene beauty, and yes, that’s as surreal as it sounds, according to Greg Melville from Smithsonian Magazine. Forest Lawn is where celebrities like Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor, and Walt Disney were laid to rest. It was also the final resting place of many golden-age stars, making it a kind of pilgrimage site for film buffs. It’s part museum, part park, part history book.
What surprises many visitors is how art-focused it is—there’s even a full-scale replica of Michelangelo’s David. The architecture and sculptures give the place a dreamy, European vibe. It’s also the spot where Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman were married back in the day. It’s more than just a cemetery—it’s a legacy on display.
4. Green-Wood Cemetery – Brooklyn, New York
Green-Wood is like the Central Park of cemeteries, complete with winding paths, ponds, and dramatic Gothic gates, according to Noah Sheidlower from Untapped New York. Founded in 1838, it became so popular in the 19th century that it helped inspire the creation of New York’s public parks. Famous residents include composer Leonard Bernstein, artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, and infamous mob boss “Crazy Joe” Gallo. It’s one of the most visually striking cemeteries in the U.S.
It’s not unusual to find birdwatchers and picnickers here, thanks to its arboretum-like setting. The cemetery hosts concerts, trolley tours, and even historical reenactments. Its scenic hills offer some of the best views of Manhattan. It’s a peaceful blend of nature, art, and story.
5. Bonaventure Cemetery – Savannah, Georgia
If you’ve ever seen the hauntingly beautiful cover of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, you’ve seen Bonaventure. This Southern Gothic gem is draped in Spanish moss and filled with weathered statues and elaborate headstones, according to the City of Savannah. Originally a plantation, it was converted into a public cemetery in the mid-1800s. It’s perhaps one of the most photographed cemeteries in America.
The cemetery holds the graves of poet Conrad Aiken and musician Johnny Mercer, among others. But many visitors come just to walk among the dramatic oaks and weeping angels. It’s eerie and enchanting at the same time, and often feels like stepping into a gothic novel. Tour guides lean into the ghost stories, and honestly, it works.
6. Hollywood Forever Cemetery – Los Angeles, California
Right next to Paramount Studios, this cemetery feels like a backlot for the afterlife. Hollywood Forever is the final stop for stars like Judy Garland, Rudolph Valentino, and Dee Dee Ramone. But it’s also a living cultural hub, hosting movie nights, concerts, and a massive Día de los Muertos celebration. It’s unlike any other burial ground in the country.
The vibe is both reverent and lively—yes, somehow both. Fans often leave lipstick kisses on Valentino’s crypt or flowers at Chris Cornell’s grave. There’s a sense that the legends here are still part of the show. Even in death, Hollywood knows how to make an entrance.
7. Saint Louis Cemetery No. 1 – New Orleans, Louisiana
This is New Orleans’ oldest cemetery, and easily its most famous. With its above-ground tombs and decaying grandeur, it feels more like a mini city of the dead. It’s where Voodoo priestess Marie Laveau is buried, which adds a mystical element to its allure. Because of preservation concerns, you now need a guide to get in.
The tours are packed with stories of hauntings, history, and ritual. Nicolas Cage even has a tomb already built here—in the shape of a pyramid. The tight rows of mausoleums and peeling paint only add to the eerie charm. It’s a spiritual crossroads that mixes culture, legend, and architecture.
8. Laurel Hill Cemetery – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Laurel Hill isn’t just a cemetery—it’s one of the first places in America to be considered both a burial ground and a park. Established in 1836, it’s perched on the banks of the Schuylkill River, offering scenic views alongside stately tombs. Revolutionary War heroes, Civil War generals, and Titanic passengers are all buried here. It was the second major rural cemetery in the country, after Mount Auburn.
Laurel Hill regularly hosts themed tours, movie nights, and even yoga classes among the headstones. It’s quirky, but somehow it works. The Victorian architecture and elaborate monuments give it a Gothic flair that draws photographers and history buffs alike. For a cemetery, it’s surprisingly lively.
9. Sleepy Hollow Cemetery – Sleepy Hollow, New York
Yes, that Sleepy Hollow. This cemetery is the resting place of Washington Irving, the author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow—and it fully leans into the spooky vibes. The cemetery, founded in 1849, has winding paths, old stone bridges, and an almost haunted feel. It’s a Halloween hotspot every year.
Visitors also come to see the graves of Andrew Carnegie, Elizabeth Arden, and William Rockefeller. But Irving’s tombstone is by far the most visited, especially in the fall. There are night tours, lantern-lit walks, and storytelling events that keep the legend alive. It’s the perfect blend of American folklore and real history.
10. Woodlawn Cemetery – Bronx, New York
Woodlawn is like a VIP section of New York’s past. More than 300,000 people are buried here, including jazz legends like Duke Ellington and Miles Davis. The cemetery is known for its elaborate mausoleums, many designed by the same architects behind iconic NYC buildings. It’s a celebration of art, music, and legacy.
The cemetery even has a designated “Jazz Corner,” which attracts music fans from around the world. Beyond the star power, Woodlawn is also known for its breathtaking sculptures and landscaping. It’s like walking through an open-air museum. You don’t expect a cemetery to be inspiring, but this one is.
11. Mount Auburn Cemetery – Cambridge, Massachusetts
Mount Auburn is the first rural, landscaped cemetery in the U.S., and it’s been setting the bar since 1831. Designed more like a botanical garden than a burial ground, it marked a huge shift from overcrowded, urban graveyards. Scientists, authors, and politicians lie here, including Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Mary Baker Eddy. The cemetery’s emphasis on beauty and tranquility changed how Americans viewed burial spaces.
Today, it doubles as a birdwatcher’s paradise and a walking trail destination. The view from Washington Tower is worth the climb—you can see the Boston skyline on a clear day. It’s also a designated National Historic Landmark for its innovative design. Mount Auburn feels more like a sanctuary than a cemetery.
12. San Francisco National Cemetery – San Francisco, California
Nestled within the Presidio, this cemetery offers one of the most stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s the only cemetery located within the city of San Francisco and serves as a military burial ground. Over 30,000 service members are interred here, including veterans from the Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, and both World Wars. The quiet dignity of the rows of white headstones against the Bay is breathtaking.
What makes it extra special is how it blends into the landscape of the city while still feeling sacred and secluded. It’s a great stop on a walk through the Presidio, even if you weren’t planning on visiting a cemetery. The history is deep, and the view alone is worth the visit. It’s peaceful, poignant, and quintessentially San Francisco.
