At the very least, it's the creepiest place you've ever seen.
The first week I moved to Richmond, a friend immediately asked me, "Wait, have you been to Hollywood cemetery yet?!" This question struck me as irrevocably odd. Why would I have been to the cemetery? This friend described it as "probably the most interesting place in the city." While that might be a stretch, it is definitely not your usual house of the dead.
The cemetery holds the remains of several presidents and many historical figures. If you're too creeped out to go at night, you can take a Highlights of Hollywood Cemetery walking tour any Monday through Saturday this summer from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. This prospect appealed to me, because first of all, it's very a weird way to spend a morning, and second of all, it's free. So I was completely down. And I went.
I would not exactly describe it as a "local hotspot," because everyone there is dead.
However, Hollywood Cemetery is an absolutely a fascinating archive of our cultural history. In case you ever feel like going, here's your visual guide to this semi-terrifying place.
Hollywood Cemetery in Images
Hollywood Cemetery, A Grave That Is Definitely Not Haunted (Courtesy of E. Alvin)
Lost At Sea, Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, VA (Courtesy of Pinterest)
Jefferson Davis Memorial, Hollywood Cemetery (Pinterest)
Mausoleum, Hollywood Cemetery (Pinterest)
Crypt of W.W. Pool, the alleged "Richmond Vampire." (Courtesy of RVA News)
Logan family mausoleum, Hollywood Cemetery
Weeping Angel, the grave of William N. Worthington, Hollywood Cemetery (Courtesy of Pinterest)
Black Dog statue, who allegedly roams the grounds at night (Courtesy of M. Obscura)
Angel on a cross, Hollywood Cemetery (Courtesy of Flickr)
Atkinson angel, Hollywood Cemetery (Courtesy of Pinterest)
Hollywood Cemetery angel (Courtesy of Pinterest)
Mausoleum, Hollywood Cemetery (Courtesy of E. Alvin)
Pyramid at Hollywood Cemetery (Courtesy of Times-Dispatch)
Resting place of President John Tyler, Hollywood Cemetery (Courtesy of Richmond On The James)
Absolutely terrifying, right? The cemetery is also home to President James Monroe, John Tyler, and Jefferson Davis' burial sites. It's history, but wow -- if anything was haunted, it would be this!
Have you ever been to Hollywood Cemetery? Do cemeteries creep you out? Share your stories in the comments.