1. Arlington National Cemetery – Arlington, Virginia
Arlington is arguably the most visited cemetery in the U.S., drawing more than three million people each year. Tourists flock here to witness the solemn Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, an event that feels almost theatrical in its precision. The grounds themselves resemble a massive park, with rolling hills and manicured trees inviting visitors to stroll. Despite its somber purpose, many travelers treat it like a must-see attraction on a D.C. itinerary.
It’s also the final resting place of more than 400,000 veterans and their family members. John F. Kennedy’s eternal flame draws huge crowds daily, almost like a pilgrimage site. School groups, history buffs, and even casual tourists approach it with a mix of awe and curiosity. While deeply respectful, the steady stream of visitors makes it feel like a cultural landmark as much as a cemetery.
2. Hollywood Forever Cemetery – Los Angeles, California
This cemetery is about as close as you’ll get to a Hollywood red carpet for the dead. It’s the final resting place of stars like Judy Garland and Rudolph Valentino, making it a magnet for fans of classic film. But what sets Hollywood Forever apart is its constant lineup of public events. Visitors can catch movie screenings projected against mausoleum walls or attend concerts on the grounds.
The atmosphere is almost festival-like in the summer, when thousands gather with picnic blankets for outdoor film nights. Locals and tourists alike treat it as both a cemetery and a cultural hub. It’s an unusual blend of mourning and merrymaking, and that novelty keeps people coming back. In a city obsessed with celebrity, this cemetery doubles as both a memorial and an entertainment venue.
3. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 – New Orleans, Louisiana
This famous New Orleans cemetery is practically a tourist attraction in its own right. Known for its above-ground tombs and labyrinth-like layout, it feels more like walking through a historic village than a graveyard. Marie Laveau, the legendary “Voodoo Queen,” is buried here, and her grave draws curious visitors from around the world. Because of vandalism and popularity, the cemetery now requires guided tours for entry.
The vibe is equal parts eerie and educational, as guides spin stories of hauntings, folklore, and French Creole history. Tourists snap photos constantly, treating the tombs as backdrops for their adventures. Some even leave offerings at Laveau’s resting place, adding to the atmosphere of spectacle. In New Orleans, cemeteries aren’t just solemn—they’re part of the city’s living culture.
4. Bonaventure Cemetery – Savannah, Georgia
If Bonaventure looks familiar, that’s because it was made famous by the book and film Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Visitors wander its moss-draped oak avenues like it’s an open-air museum. The intricate headstones and elaborate sculptures make it as much an art gallery as a burial ground. Tour companies run daily excursions here, complete with history lessons and ghost stories.
It’s also stunningly photogenic, which explains why so many treat it like a park. Walkers and photographers spend hours exploring the peaceful grounds, often forgetting they’re in a cemetery. Statues like the “Bird Girl,” once on display here, became iconic symbols of Savannah’s mystique. With its Southern Gothic atmosphere, Bonaventure is equal parts history, art, and spectacle.
5. Forest Lawn Memorial Park – Glendale, California
Forest Lawn is less like a cemetery and more like a Disneyland for the departed. Its grounds are filled with enormous murals, replicas of famous artworks, and even stained-glass displays. Tourists come not only to pay respects to celebrities like Michael Jackson but also to marvel at the unusual artistic touches. For some, it feels more like a museum than a graveyard.
Walt Disney himself is buried here, which only adds to the theme-park-like aura. The scale of the place is enormous, and families often walk the gardens as if they’re exploring an attraction. Guides even give tours highlighting the artwork and architecture. In many ways, it’s designed to be visited as much as it is to be mourned.
6. Mount Auburn Cemetery – Cambridge, Massachusetts
Mount Auburn was America’s first landscaped cemetery, founded in 1831. With its carefully designed gardens, ponds, and paths, it feels like a botanical park more than a graveyard. Tourists and locals visit for birdwatching, nature walks, and even climbing the observation tower for sweeping views of Boston. It’s part cemetery, part arboretum.
This blend of nature and remembrance has kept it a popular tourist stop for nearly two centuries. School groups come to study both history and ecology, making it unusually educational. Joggers and walkers pass through daily, sometimes unaware of the graves around them. It set the trend for “garden cemeteries” across the country, blurring the line between park and burial ground.
7. Sleepy Hollow Cemetery – Sleepy Hollow, New York
Thanks to Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, this cemetery is drenched in folklore. Irving himself is buried here, and fans of the Headless Horseman flock to see his grave. During Halloween season, it transforms into something close to a themed attraction, complete with lantern tours and storytelling events. It’s less spooky and more theatrical for most visitors.
Tourists treat it like stepping into a piece of American literature. The grounds are sprawling and picturesque, adding to the experience. Seasonal events bring in crowds who come more for atmosphere than mourning. It’s proof that a cemetery can double as a pop-culture pilgrimage site.
8. Green-Wood Cemetery – Brooklyn, New York
Green-Wood is one of the most visited cemeteries in New York City, partly because of its striking architecture. Its Gothic gates alone are worth a photo stop, and the grounds are full of elaborate monuments. Tour guides highlight the graves of famous figures like artist Jean-Michel Basquiat and composer Leonard Bernstein. The place feels like a cross between an outdoor art museum and a history lesson.
Tourists stroll its paths for views of the Manhattan skyline, which makes it popular beyond just history buffs. In summer, the cemetery even hosts public events and concerts. Birdwatchers treat it like a wildlife sanctuary, spotting rare species across its 478 acres. It’s more alive with activity than many city parks.
9. Lake View Cemetery – Cleveland, Ohio
Lake View Cemetery is sometimes called “Cleveland’s Outdoor Museum,” and it’s easy to see why. It’s home to the massive James A. Garfield Memorial, which tourists can actually enter and climb for sweeping city views. The grounds also feature ornate mausoleums, sculptures, and peaceful walking paths that make it feel more like a cultural attraction than a graveyard. Even Eliot Ness, the famed Prohibition agent, is buried here, adding to its historical draw.
The cemetery actively invites visitors with tours, events, and even birdwatching opportunities. Travelers often spend hours exploring the art and architecture, treating it more like a park than a solemn space. Families and school groups make it part of sightseeing itineraries in Cleveland. With its mix of history, beauty, and accessibility, Lake View blurs the line between cemetery and tourist attraction.
10. Hollywood Cemetery – Richmond, Virginia
Don’t let the name fool you—this is no California landmark. Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond is the resting place of two U.S. presidents, James Monroe and John Tyler, as well as Confederate leaders. Its dramatic hilltop location overlooking the James River makes it as scenic as any public park. Tourists often explore with cameras in hand, documenting both history and scenery.
Guided tours lean into the cemetery’s presidential connections, making it a highlight for history buffs. The ornate Gothic tombs and ironwork also attract architecture enthusiasts. Families picnic on the grounds during sunny weekends, treating it less like a burial place and more like a park. That dual identity is what keeps it a steady draw.
11. Old Burying Point Cemetery – Salem, Massachusetts
In a city famous for witch trials, Salem’s Old Burying Point is a natural magnet for curious travelers. Established in 1637, it’s one of the oldest cemeteries in the U.S. and features weathered gravestones that feel straight out of a ghost story. Tourists come in droves, especially during October, when Salem transforms into a Halloween destination. The cemetery becomes part of the spectacle.
Guides spin tales of accused witches and Puritan leaders buried here, adding drama to every visit. Photographers capture the eerie carvings on the headstones, many featuring skulls and winged angels. The atmosphere is part history lesson, part haunted attraction. Visitors may arrive for the chills, but they leave with a deeper sense of the city’s past.
12. Rock Creek Cemetery – Washington, D.C.
Rock Creek is best known for its famous “Adams Memorial,” often called the “Grief” statue, designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Visitors flock to see this haunting piece of art, which has been widely photographed and interpreted. The cemetery itself feels like an outdoor sculpture park, full of notable works. Tourists wander through for both art appreciation and quiet reflection.
Because it’s less crowded than Arlington, Rock Creek feels like a hidden gem. Art students and historians often treat it as an open-air classroom. Its leafy grounds make it as peaceful as a park, encouraging long walks. For many, it’s as much about experiencing art as paying respects.
13. Metairie Cemetery – New Orleans, Louisiana
Metairie stands out for its elaborate, almost theatrical tombs. Once a horse-racing track, it became a cemetery in the 19th century, and its oval layout still hints at its past. The tombs here are so ornate they look like miniature mansions, attracting tourists fascinated by their grandeur. Visitors often compare it to walking through an architectural showcase.
Guided tours dive into the symbolism behind the statues and carvings, adding layers of meaning to the experience. Travelers come for the spectacle as much as the history. The lavish memorials blur the line between cemetery and outdoor museum. In true New Orleans style, it feels larger-than-life.
14. Woodlawn Cemetery – Bronx, New York
Woodlawn is one of the largest cemeteries in New York and is a designated National Historic Landmark. Tourists visit for its impressive mausoleums, many designed by the same architects who built Manhattan’s skyscrapers. It’s also the final resting place of jazz legends like Duke Ellington and Miles Davis. Music fans treat it like a pilgrimage site, bringing it extra cultural weight.
The cemetery even hosts jazz events to honor its famous residents, further blurring the line between mourning and celebration. Its sprawling grounds invite long, park-like strolls. Architecture buffs are drawn to its Beaux-Arts and Art Deco monuments. Woodlawn is as much about cultural heritage as it is about remembrance.
This post 14 U.S. Cemeteries Tourists Treat Like Theme Parks was first published on American Charm.
