Comments on: The Quick 10: 10 Famous Cemeteries http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/19006 Feel Smart Again Sun, 8 Nov 2009 14:39:02 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Lerren http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/19006/comment-page-1#comment-101358 Lerren Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:53:00 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/19006#comment-101358 I've loved old cemeteries, especially family ones, way out in the country or in the mountains where it's hard to reach town - I love photographing them. In addition, I have a photo of my grandparents standing in front of their own headstones :) And, I've got a relative buried in Westminster, but nobody can get a photo of it for me because of the silly policies there. Argh. I’ve loved old cemeteries, especially family ones, way out in the country or in the mountains where it’s hard to reach town – I love photographing them. In addition, I have a photo of my grandparents standing in front of their own headstones :) And, I’ve got a relative buried in Westminster, but nobody can get a photo of it for me because of the silly policies there. Argh.

]]> By: Kimber http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/19006/comment-page-1#comment-100629 Kimber Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:20:27 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/19006#comment-100629 I didn't become a taphophile until I became a paranormal investigator. I spent more time looking at the stones than looking for ghosts! If a grave struck me as interesting in any way, I'd research who the person was, how they died, or whatever I could find. I have visited many famous cemeteries (Oakland in Atlanta, Bonaventure, many in Boston, Cleveland...so many!), but my favorite ones are the small, community cemeteries in rural areas. There are two cemeteries close to my house that date from the early 1800's and are still being used today. I love walking through them and trying to figure out the how, why, and who of everyone in there. I didn’t become a taphophile until I became a paranormal investigator. I spent more time looking at the stones than looking for ghosts! If a grave struck me as interesting in any way, I’d research who the person was, how they died, or whatever I could find.

I have visited many famous cemeteries (Oakland in Atlanta, Bonaventure, many in Boston, Cleveland…so many!), but my favorite ones are the small, community cemeteries in rural areas. There are two cemeteries close to my house that date from the early 1800’s and are still being used today. I love walking through them and trying to figure out the how, why, and who of everyone in there.

]]> By: CW Lover http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/19006/comment-page-1#comment-100621 CW Lover Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:00:37 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/19006#comment-100621 Arlington Plantation was seized from Robert E Lee and his family at the beginning of the war and was used as a military office and storage depot during the war. The Federal government did not want to return the plantation to the Lee family because of course, his actions could have been ruled treasonous. Plus, being part of the holdings of the first President of the U.S. it was equally precious to patriots who were very angry at General Lee. Arlington Plantation was seized from Robert E Lee and his family at the beginning of the war and was used as a military office and storage depot during the war. The Federal government did not want to return the plantation to the Lee family because of course, his actions could have been ruled treasonous. Plus, being part of the holdings of the first President of the U.S. it was equally precious to patriots who were very angry at General Lee.

]]> By: Kendra http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/19006/comment-page-1#comment-100582 Kendra Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:53:25 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/19006#comment-100582 Sorry for the double post.. Must....learn....patience Sorry for the double post..

Must….learn….patience

]]> By: Kendra http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/19006/comment-page-1#comment-100573 Kendra Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:29:49 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/19006#comment-100573 I visited the Necropolis Cristóbal Colón cemetery in Havana, Cuba last year and I was the most amazing and beautiful cemetery I have ever seen. There are over 1 million people that are buried there. I think it’s one of the largest cemeteries in the world. What they do in Cuba is they bury the person in a casket, then because of the heat and humidity and other environmental conditions in Cuba the body decomposes into dust in a couple of years. They then dig up the casket and transfer the remains to a smaller casket and placed on top of family members that have previously died. There are quite a few famous Cubans who are buried there, most of which I can’t remember now but one that I do is the guy who wrote Guantanamera. We also got to visit the gravesite of ‘La Milagrosa’. The story is that this woman died while giving birth to a still-born child. As the custom goes, she was buried with her baby at her feet. Years later, her casket was opened up and they discovered the baby in the arms of the mother. She now stands as a symbol of motherly love. There were so many Cubans praying at the site and leaving flowers and crying . It was very moving I visited the Necropolis Cristóbal Colón cemetery in Havana, Cuba last year and I was the most amazing and beautiful cemetery I have ever seen. There are over 1 million people that are buried there. I think it’s one of the largest cemeteries in the world. What they do in Cuba is they bury the person in a casket, then because of the heat and humidity and other environmental conditions in Cuba the body decomposes into dust in a couple of years. They then dig up the casket and transfer the remains to a smaller casket and placed on top of family members that have previously died.
There are quite a few famous Cubans who are buried there, most of which I can’t remember now but one that I do is the guy who wrote Guantanamera. We also got to visit the gravesite of ‘La Milagrosa’. The story is that this woman died while giving birth to a still-born child. As the custom goes, she was buried with her baby at her feet. Years later, her casket was opened up and they discovered the baby in the arms of the mother. She now stands as a symbol of motherly love. There were so many Cubans praying at the site and leaving flowers and crying . It was very moving

]]> By: Kendra http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/19006/comment-page-1#comment-100570 Kendra Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:24:38 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/19006#comment-100570 I visited the Necropolis Cristóbal Colón cemetery in Havana, Cuba last year and I was the most amazing and beautiful cemetery I have ever seen. There are over 1 million people that are buried there. I think it’s one of the largest cemeteries in the world. What they do in Cuba is they bury the person in a casket, then because of the heat and humidity and other environmental conditions in Cuba the body decomposes into dust in a couple of years. They then dig up the casket and transfer the remains to a smaller casket and placed on top of family members that have previously died. There are quite a few famous Cubans who are buried there, most of which I can’t remember now but one that I do is the guy who wrote Guantanamera. We also got to visit the gravesite of ‘La Milagrosa’. The story is that this woman died while giving birth to a still-born child. As the custom goes, she was buried with her baby at her feet. Years later, her casket was opened up and they discovered the baby in the arms of the mother. She now stands as a symbol of motherly love. There were so many Cubans praying at the site and leaving flowers and crying . It was very moving. I visited the Necropolis Cristóbal Colón cemetery in Havana, Cuba last year and I was the most amazing and beautiful cemetery I have ever seen. There are over 1 million people that are buried there. I think it’s one of the largest cemeteries in the world. What they do in Cuba is they bury the person in a casket, then because of the heat and humidity and other environmental conditions in Cuba the body decomposes into dust in a couple of years. They then dig up the casket and transfer the remains to a smaller casket and placed on top of family members that have previously died.
There are quite a few famous Cubans who are buried there, most of which I can’t remember now but one that I do is the guy who wrote Guantanamera. We also got to visit the gravesite of ‘La Milagrosa’. The story is that this woman died while giving birth to a still-born child. As the custom goes, she was buried with her baby at her feet. Years later, her casket was opened up and they discovered the baby in the arms of the mother. She now stands as a symbol of motherly love. There were so many Cubans praying at the site and leaving flowers and crying . It was very moving.

]]> By: Traci http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/19006/comment-page-1#comment-100551 Traci Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:47:12 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/19006#comment-100551 Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires is amazing and worth a mention. It's kind of its own miniature city of above-ground tombs, and it's also populated by a bunch of cats. Famous "residents" include Eva Peron and a bunch of former Presidents and generals. Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires is amazing and worth a mention. It’s kind of its own miniature city of above-ground tombs, and it’s also populated by a bunch of cats. Famous “residents” include Eva Peron and a bunch of former Presidents and generals.

]]> By: Adrian http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/19006/comment-page-1#comment-100541 Adrian Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:51:38 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/19006#comment-100541 I was raised taphophile, having been dragged to cemetaries by my taphophile mother (hey, I used the new word twice!). I'd nominate the Cudworth cemetary in Wanchese, NC. Headstones carved with trawlers, the graves of nine homeless men who died while working for the CCC in the 30s, and the graves of all the major outer banks families. Plus to get to it, you have to drive down a litte dirt road past a double-wide that, last time I was there, had a wheelbarrow full of Wonderbread in the front yard. I was raised taphophile, having been dragged to cemetaries by my taphophile mother (hey, I used the new word twice!).

I’d nominate the Cudworth cemetary in Wanchese, NC. Headstones carved with trawlers, the graves of nine homeless men who died while working for the CCC in the 30s, and the graves of all the major outer banks families.

Plus to get to it, you have to drive down a litte dirt road past a double-wide that, last time I was there, had a wheelbarrow full of Wonderbread in the front yard.

]]> By: dbus http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/19006/comment-page-1#comment-100522 dbus Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:29:56 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/19006#comment-100522 Don't forget that Arlington was one of the plantations that was owned/inherited by the wife of Robert E Lee. Lee incidentally is the one who probably did free the slave you mentioned. He was the one running the plantation but eventually freed all of his slaves prior to the war. Also his sons lobbied unsuccessfully to regain Arlington but since it was pretty much useless for planting they eventually were paid $150,000 by the goverment. Don’t forget that Arlington was one of the plantations that was owned/inherited by the wife of Robert E Lee. Lee incidentally is the one who probably did free the slave you mentioned. He was the one running the plantation but eventually freed all of his slaves prior to the war.
Also his sons lobbied unsuccessfully to regain Arlington but since it was pretty much useless for planting they eventually were paid $150,000 by the goverment.

]]> By: Abby http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/19006/comment-page-1#comment-100496 Abby Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:32:48 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/19006#comment-100496 Boston is a major cemetery center for the U.S. Mount Auburn Cemetery and Forest Hills Cemeteries are must-see historical spots and beautiful parks in the Boston area. I'm surprised Granary Burial Ground by Boston Common didn't make the list, considering the number of notable burials - it ranges from Mother Goose to Paul Revere! Boston is a major cemetery center for the U.S. Mount Auburn Cemetery and Forest Hills Cemeteries are must-see historical spots and beautiful parks in the Boston area. I’m surprised Granary Burial Ground by Boston Common didn’t make the list, considering the number of notable burials – it ranges from Mother Goose to Paul Revere!

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