3 Alabama cemeteries recognized among most beautiful in the country
Reading time: 3 minutes
Spooky season is just around the corner and while graveyards + cemeteries may be closely associated with the Halloween season, sometimes it’s good to sit back and appreciate the beauty of them.
That’s exactly what one study from Choice Mutual did as they identified 140 of the most beautiful hidden cemeteries across the country. And three of them are right here in Alabama.
Here’s which ones made the list:
- #58 Church Street Graveyard in Mobile
- #107 Pine Hill Cemetery in Auburn
- #118 New Cemetery at Old Cahawba in Orrville
The rankings were based off a survey of more than 3,000 people.
“Our list makes one thing clear: cemeteries aren’t just about mourning. They can also be about beauty, memory, and a way for communities to honor those from the past.”
Choice Mutual
Church Street Graveyard
The earliest burials in the Port City cemetery date back to 1819, just before the city official purchased the property in 1820.
Many individuals important in Mobile’s early history are buried in the graveyard including:
- Joe Cain, Mardi Gras figure
- Julian Lee Rayford, Mardi Gras figure
- Don Miguel Eslava, an early Spanish official
- Dominique Louis Dolive, an early French settler
- James Roper, The builder of Oakleigh
“…through the tombs, markers, monuments and other funerary materials, the graveyard tells the story of Mobile’s historical development and the people who made contributions to its’ heritage. The site’s significance as a tourist attraction, and as a regional historical/genealogical resource must not be underestimated. The graveyard is also important as passive open space in the surrounding neighborhood.”
Sharyn Thompson, City of Mobile consultant
Pine Hill Cemetery
Pine Hill is the oldest known cemetery in Auburn with its first burial dating back to 1838. It is located just off campus between Armstrong and Payne streets.
Judge John J. Harper, Auburn’s founder, donated almost 6 acres to the new town in 1837, to be used as a community burying ground for white settlers and their slaves.
Early cemetery records are non-existent, as the first survey was conducted in the 1950’s when over 1,100 marked graves were cataloged. Of this number, only one black grave is identified.
A cross section of Auburn citizens are also buried here, including University presidents and slaves.
New Cemetery at Old Cahawba in Orrville
This “new” cemetery was created by an act of Alabama’s Legislature in 1852. Cahaba’s town council selected this spot, but the Legislature had to confirm their choice because all public land within Cahaba – the town created to be Alabama’s first capital – was still owned by the state.
Originally, the cemetery was surrounded by both a deep ditch and a hedge to protect the graves from wandering livestock. The current fence line was installed in 1929, long after the cemetery had been abandoned but the location of this fence may bear little resemblance to the actual historic boundaries of the cemetery.
The self-guiding walking tour brochure will introduce you to some of Cahaba’s perpetual residents. There are more people buried here that you might suspect. Ground penetrating radar has detected 294 unmarked graves.
Want updates like this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our newsletter today.
