Of all the historic cemeteries in Mississippi, one of the most interesting is the Natchez City Cemetery. In addition to its immense beauty, the graveyard has long been known for the variety of strange tombstones and graves that fill its grounds. From unusual memorials to a statue that appears to move on its own, it’s easy to see why the Natchez City Cemetery has intrigued so many over the years.
Established in 1822, the Natchez City Cemetery is one of the oldest burial grounds in the state.
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As beautiful as it is historic, the 100-acre cemetery sits high on the bluffs above the Mississippi River, providing gorgeous views, especially at sunset.
Patrick Keller/Flickr
In existence for well over a century, it’s the final resting place of numerous historic figures, builders of the city’s famous antebellum homes, and everyday people.
Patrick Keller/Flickr
Aside from a rich history, it’s the slew of unique monuments that grab visitors’ attention. The most famous statue in the cemetery is The Turning Angel, which is said to watch people as they pass by the cemetery at night.
Djpeterman/TripAdvisor The statue was erected after an explosion at the Natchez Drug Company on March 14, 1908. A total of 12 employees died in the tragic incident. As a way to honor their lives, the owner purchased the statue and a lot in the historic cemetery.
According to legend, when cars drive by the cemetery’s gates at night and the headlights shine on the angel, she seems to turn to watch the passerby.
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The grave of Florence Irene Ford is another intriguing site in the cemetery. At the time of her death in 1871, Florence was just 10 years old. Since the young girl was always scared by storms, her mother had this unusual grave built.
Shanna Riley/Flickr
In addition to a specially made coffin that had a pane of clear glass at Florence’s head, the mother had stairs installed at the gravesite. The grieving mother could descend the stairs and sit with her daughter during scary storms.
Shanna Riley/Flickr
Today, the doors and stairs remain; however, the window into the grave and coffin has been sealed to prevent vandalism.
Natalie Maynor/Flickr
The grave of Louise the Unfortunate is also known to pique interest. According to local lore, Louise came to Natchez searching for her fiancee but never found him.
Natalie Maynor/Flickr She stayed in Natchez, working as a prostitute. When she passed away, an anonymous person paid for her burial and tombstone, which doesn’t include any dates.
Another noteworthy gravesite is that of Mr. LH Lawrence. After the death of his wife, Mr. Lawrence would visit her grave every day.
pollyp65/TripAdvisor And each day, he brought along a toolbox of items he used to clean her headstone and take care of her plot. The grieving husband spent so much time at the gravesite, the cemetery bought a bench for him. After Mr. Lawrence’s death, an encased toolbox was placed underneath the bench in his memory.
The Natchez City Cemetery is located at 2 Cemetery Road in Natchez. Several tour options are available. For more information, click here.
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Patrick Keller/Flickr
Djpeterman/TripAdvisor
The statue was erected after an explosion at the Natchez Drug Company on March 14, 1908. A total of 12 employees died in the tragic incident. As a way to honor their lives, the owner purchased the statue and a lot in the historic cemetery.
natchezcvb/TripAdvisor
Shanna Riley/Flickr
Natalie Maynor/Flickr
She stayed in Natchez, working as a prostitute. When she passed away, an anonymous person paid for her burial and tombstone, which doesn’t include any dates.
pollyp65/TripAdvisor
And each day, he brought along a toolbox of items he used to clean her headstone and take care of her plot. The grieving husband spent so much time at the gravesite, the cemetery bought a bench for him. After Mr. Lawrence’s death, an encased toolbox was placed underneath the bench in his memory.
So, did you know the Natchez City Cemetery was home to so many unusual graves? Ever visited the cemetery? Tell us in the comments section.
This isn’t Mississippi’s only graveyard with a baffling past! Read about another in “This Erie Mississippi Legend Is Sure To Send Chills Down Your Spine.“
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