Hollywood Cemetery

Hollywood Cemetery is a historic cemetery located in Richmond, Virginia, and is the final resting place of two United States Presidents, James Monroe and John Tyler, as well as the only Confederate States President, Jefferson Davis. The cemetery is situated on a hill overlooking the James River and is adjacent to the Maymont estate, which was once the home of James Dooley. Hollywood Cemetery was established in 1847 and is one of the oldest cemeteries in the United States, with many notable Richmonders and Virginians buried within its grounds, including Elizabeth Van Lew, a Union spy during the American Civil War, and John Mitchell, a United States Senator from Virginia.

● History

The history of Hollywood Cemetery dates back to 1847, when it was established by the Richmond city council, with the help of William H. Macfarland, a Richmond businessman, and William F. Ritchie, a United States Senator from Virginia. The cemetery was designed by John Notman, a Philadelphia architect, who also designed the Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia. During the American Civil War, Hollywood Cemetery was used as a burial ground for Confederate States Army soldiers, including those who died at the Battle of Seven Pines and the Battle of Malvern Hill. The cemetery is also the final resting place of many notable Richmonders, including James Albert Walker, a Confederate States Army general, and Lizzie Lu Ober, a Richmond socialite.

● Notable Interments

Hollywood Cemetery is the final resting place of many notable individuals, including United States Presidents James Monroe and John Tyler, as well as Confederate States President Jefferson Davis. Other notable interments include Stuart McGuire, a Confederate States Army surgeon, and George Wythe Munford, a Richmond mayor. The cemetery is also the final resting place of many Virginia politicians, including William Cabell Rives, a United States Senator from Virginia, and John Warwick Daniel, a United States Representative from Virginia. Additionally, the cemetery is the final resting place of Varina Davis, the wife of Jefferson Davis, and Letitia Christian Tyler, the wife of John Tyler.

● Architecture and Layout

The architecture and layout of Hollywood Cemetery were designed by John Notman, a Philadelphia architect, who also designed the Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia. The cemetery features a mix of Victorian and Gothic Revival styles, with many grand mausoleums and monuments, including the President James Monroe monument, designed by Albert Weinert, a Richmond sculptor. The cemetery is laid out in a series of winding roads and paths, with many beautiful gardens and landscaping features, including the James River overlook, which offers stunning views of the James River and the Richmond skyline. The cemetery is also home to many notable sculptures, including the Confederate Soldiers' Monument, designed by Frederick William Sievers, a Richmond sculptor.

● Points of Interest

Hollywood Cemetery is a popular tourist destination, with many points of interest, including the President James Monroe monument, the Jefferson Davis monument, and the Confederate Soldiers' Monument. The cemetery is also home to many beautiful gardens and landscaping features, including the James River overlook, which offers stunning views of the James River and the Richmond skyline. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the cemetery, which includes many notable graves and monuments, including those of United States Presidents James Monroe and John Tyler, as well as Confederate States President Jefferson Davis. The cemetery is also adjacent to the Maymont estate, which was once the home of James Dooley, a Richmond businessman, and features many beautiful gardens and landscaping features, including the Maymont Mansion, designed by Edgar Allan Poe, a Richmond architect. Category:Cemeteries in Virginia