Whenever I travel, I always make a point to stop at a nearby cemetery, usually the most well known in the area. Before I visit, I always check to see if any notable figures are buried there. It’s a morbid activity, but it’s also very fun and a way to explore the history of an area without the crowds or expense of visiting a touristy museum or attraction.
Over the years, I’ve visited multiple cemeteries and come across many famous graves. Sometimes the fame belongs to the person buried beneath the grave, and sometimes it belongs to the grave itself. Below are some of the cemeteries I’ve visited and the graves of the famous people who are buried in them.
My first celebrity grave
The first famous grave I ever visited was that of the artist Andy Warhol. Though a native Pittsburgher like me, Warhol grew up several miles away from me, yet he is buried very close to where I grew up.
My elementary school art teacher had first taught us about Warhol and mentioned that he was buried up the hill on a main road that many of us traveled on regularly. It wasn’t until I was an adult, though, that I finally decided to scope it out.
Warhol is buried in St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Cemetery. His grave is a pretty simple stone, though it’s typically decorated with the subjects of his pop art paintings, such as Campell’s soup cans and Coca Cola bottles. Just behind him is the headstone for his parents, Andrew and Julia Warhola.
An EarthCam is also pointed at the stone 24/7. So, you can regularly visit Andy even if you can’t make it to the South Hills of Pittsburgh.
When I began freelance writing, I contacted Madelyn Roehrig, an artist who has created an ongoing art project at the grave called Andy’s Figments, where she leaves pens and paper for visitors to write messages which she then collects and posts online. I interviewed Roehrig for a site called Ok Whatever and learned a lot about the project and the group of dedicated fans who regularly visit, tend to, and collect the offerings at his grave.
I think this experience really set off my need to visit more celebrity graves. If the celebrities are not forgotten, why should their final resting place be?
More local graves
Pittsburgh is surprisingly home to a lot of historical figures and celebrities. So, it wasn’t difficult to locate more famous graves in my own backyard.
One of the largest cemeteries in Pittsburgh is Allegheny Cemetery, a 300-acre, non-sectarian burial ground in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh. I’ve been to this cemetery multiple times in the past few years and still haven’t explored it all. They also have a list of notable political, sports, and entertainment figures buried there that I have yet to see.
One of the most famous graves in the cemetery is that of Stephen Foster, an American composer who wrote famous songs such as “Oh! Susanna,” “Camptown Races,” and “Beautiful Dreamer.” No, these are not modern hits, but they are still well known to this day. The man was not much older than I am now when he died, but he definitely left a legacy.
Another notable grave was one that I wasn’t looking for but caught my eye the first time I walked past it. It’s that of John Riegert, a local artist who died in 2018. The font on his gravestone contains multiple versions of handwriting, including bubble letters forming his name.
Another celebrity grave I’ve found in this cemetery is that of Don Brockett. If you watched Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood growing up, you’ll know him as the chef who appeared both in the real world and the neighborhood of make believe. He also had some bit parts in some movies, such as The Silence of the Lambs.
The most famous resident of Latrobe, PA
Speaking of Mr. Rogers, he’s buried in Unity Cemetery in his hometown of Latrobe, PA. It’s a bit of a hike outside of the city, but when I was in the area in the summer of 2026, I traveled up to Unity Cemetery to pay my respects to this beloved childhood hero.
Mr. Rogers’ grave is kind of disguised. Thanks to the internet, I found that he’s buried in a mausoleum marked “Given.”
There aren’t many mausoleums in this cemetery, and this one is towards the back. When you peek into the door, you can see him on the bottom left side. It’s a bit much for such a humble man but also fitting for such a local and national hero.
More notable graves in Allegheny Cemetery
Sometimes a grave is famous not so much due to who is buried there but because of the grave design. One of the most famous graves in Allegheny Cemetery is that of Lester C. Madden, a Korean war veteran who died in 1983. His grave contains the head of a great white shark, and, unsurprisingly, his favorite movie was Jaws.
Another grave that pops up in searches of the cemetery is the Moorhead Mausoleum. It’s a gothic, octagon-shaped mausoleum that was built for one of the founders of the cemetery who was also a Pennsylvania Canal operator.
While the other mausoleums in the cemetery appear to be clean and well-maintained, this one looks like the castle from Beauty and the Beast when it’s still under the enchantress’ spell. Its gothic, branches are growing from the roof, and the stone is stained with moss. Though it’s located in the middle of the cemetery and down a hill, it’s hard to miss.
Evans City Cemetery
Another cemetery that’s famous in the Pittsburgh area is also not due to the famous people buried there but instead because of the famous movie that was filmed there. In 1968, George A. Romero shot Night of the Living Dead’s opening scene in Evans City Cemetery. What begins as an innocent trip by brother and sister Johnny and Barbara to pay their respects turns into a literal nightmare as a freshly dead man stumbles out of his grave and attacks them.
The grave that you see in all of the still shots of Barbara clutching during the fight between Johnny and the first modern zombie played by Bill Hinzman is an obelisk style grave belonging to Nicholas Kramer. It sits along the roadside heading towards the exit of the cemetery near the little chapel that was recently restored by some fans of the film.
Even the winding hill heading up to the cemetery is famous from the film. And you can still line up several shots from the movie in this location. YouTuber Sean Clark did a really thorough filming location video for Night of the Living Dead a few years ago if you’d like to see a detailed comparison.
Cemeteries that inspire fictional characters
In 2019, I took the train from New York City to Tarrytown, NY to visit the historic Sleepy Hollow made famous in Washington Irving’s short story. At first glance, the burying ground appears to be a small area that surrounds the church. As you proceed up the path, though, you will find that the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery expands to 90 acres of land filled with graves both ancient and new and modest and extravagant.
During my first visit to Sleepy Hollow, I started at the church and worked my way up. In the front of the church is an obelisk belonging to the Van Tassel family.
Eleanor Van Tassel was Irving’s inspiration for Katrina Van Tassel, Ichabod Crane’s love interest in Irving’s famous story. Another inspiration was the grave of Abraham Martling, also located in the front of the cemetery, who was the inspiration for Brom Bones, the bully of the story.
Many authors have found inspiration for character names on gravestones. It was just incredible to see some real life examples of this practice and just how long these gravestones have held up. And of course, Irving himself is buried there in his family’s plot.
Famous tycoons
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is also known as the final resting place for many historical business tycoons. During my first trip there, the landscape was overwhelming, and even internet searches were not helpful in leading me to these famous graves.
During my second trip in the summer of 2026, I came prepared with a map of all of the notable graves in the cemetery that I found in a simple image search online. This made it easy to find all of the main attractions. I also started the search in the back of the cemetery and worked my way up.
One grave that I was most interested in locating my second time around was that of Andrew Carnegie, a notable figure from Pittsburgh. His grave is a tall, obelisk cross with smaller stones positioned around it. His smaller stone is littered with coins left by visitors. His wife and servants are also said to be buried in his plot. A wooden bench and a plaque listing the many institutions that bear his name are also situated nearby.
In contrast to Carnegie, there is the mausoleum of William Rockefeller, brother of the more famous John D. Rockefeller. His plot contains a large, white mausoleum surrounded by flat, white graves containing several family members. It feels like a monument you would see in Washington D.C.
Another grave on the list was that of Samuel Gompers, the founder of the American Federation of Labor. He isn’t a household name, but he has a long history of fighting for better working conditions. He also lived a modest life which is reflected in his stone. In fact, his stone says that it was erected by the executive counsel of the American Federation of Labor.
A more modern tycoon buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is Leona Helmsley. Again, I just went to the mausoleum because it was on the list, but it too is an impressive structure with its gold doors and wide stone pathway leading up to the crypt.
A stained-glass window in the rear of the mausoleum depicts the New York skyline and several buildings that the Helmsley family owned, including the Empire State Building and the Flatiron Building. Like many of these notable figures, their reputation is riddled with controversy, but it goes to show that the size and look of your resting place is not indicative of your reputation in life.
Another stop on the map was that of Elizabeth Arden, the makeup mogul. Her grave is relatively modest and nestled in the rear of the cemetery along a simple chain link fence. Without the map, I would have just considered it another ordinary person’s grave, as the last name reads “Graham,” her legal name. She also shares a stone with her sister, Lillian Graham.
Some photos of the gravesite online show makeup left on the large stone. However, I only found a few coins on the smaller stone when I visited it.
Historical figures
During my first trip to Washington D.C. in 2010, I made a point of going to Arlington National Cemetery. It was the first time I had seen a cemetery with such an organized layout and uniform look of the stones.
It was also the first time I read so many rules and regulations posted at the front of the cemetery. They really encouraged quiet and ordered respectfulness throughout the visit.
The main attraction there was the Kennedy family plot. The stones for each member lay flat on the ground with the eternal flame burning nearby. The area is roped off and monitored, so you can’t get too close, but that seemed to be a good call. It’s weird to just stand there staring at a cemetery plot with a crowd of people, but it also made for a more shared experience that really taught me how important it is to have a place to pay your respects to someone who has died.
Notorious graves
There was a similar tone in the cemeteries I visited in Gettysburg and Salem. Some cemeteries had very strict rules about sticking to the paths, not leaving flowers, and even talking too loud. It’s sad that you even have to tell people that, but it’s encouraging how many people respect it.
Many of the cemeteries in Salem were not very popular. In fact, aside from Charter Street Cemetery, there was almost no one in the others I visited.
Of course, to pay your respects to the victims, you have to go to the Witch Trials Memorial or to areas off the beaten path. In Broad Street Cemetery, though, I found the graves of the Pickering couple, a notable family whose home was located just across the street.
I also found the shared graves of the Corwins, two villains of the story who were involved in prosecuting the accused witches and sending them to their deaths or forcing them to rot in jail until their jail fees were paid off. The Corwins’ stone was so old that it was difficult to read. I was amazed that it had not been desecrated in any way by those looking to get revenge for the victims, but like I said, these cemeteries really weren’t frequented, at least not during the time I was there.
When I visited the Borden family plot at Oak Grove Cemetery in Fall River, MA, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would visitors be respectful to the gravesite, especially that of Lizzie Borden herself? Was it respectful to leave flowers or coins? Though she was acquitted of the murders, public opinion still widely believes that Lizzie was the culprit.
Interestingly, there were a few offerings at the grave, including a pot of flowers in front of Lizzie’s and her sister, Emma’s, graves. Even after all of these years the family is not only remembered but respected in death.
Haunted graves
Not every cemetery has a famous person buried in it, but some have a reputation for being haunted, and that makes them a special attraction.
One such grave that comes to mind is Eternal Silence, a statue in Graceland Cemetery in Chicago, IL that has an eerie presence and a haunted history. It’s said that if you look into its eyes, you will see how you will die.
Another notorious grave is in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery called The Bronze Woman. Sculpted for a Civil War general, the statue is known to curse those who interact with her in certain ways. And if you disrespect her, she will curse you for life. She also has been known to walk around at night, cry tears of blood, and instill nightmares on those who knock on the door of the corresponding mausoleum.
While visiting this statue, I had to wait for a vlogger to film a piece for his social media on the bronze lady. He must have done many takes because he was there for a while.
I later found the video on Facebook and learned about the statue’s haunted history that way. However, even before I learned of these superstitions, I felt like I had treated the statue with respect. I did have a string of bad luck after visiting her, though. So, maybe a return trip is in order to make sure she hasn’t cursed me for good.
Another notable mausoleum that I have encountered was the Dexter Mausoleum in Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, OH. This gothic cathedral of a mausoleum was built for a whiskey merchant, and it really stands out in this already underrated cemetery. Viewing it with a storm rolling in made it all the more atmospheric and creepy. A ghost story should be written about this crypt.
Hollywood royalty
The last stop on my list was the most celebrity-littered cemetery I’ve visited to date. Of course, that will change if and when I ever get to Los Angeles and explore the many cemeteries that contain the final resting places of dozens of Hollywood stars. But it was exciting to find one on the east coast closer to where I live.
Kensico Cemetery is located just a few miles away from Sleepy Hollow in Valhalla, NY. It’s full of notable historical figures, sports figures, entertainers, and founders.
Before visiting, I did my research and used a map of the cemetery along with Find A Grave to mark the sections where the famous people I wanted to see were buried. By the time I got to the cemetery, time was limited, as the cemetery closed early, and the map turned out to be only so helpful.
The first grave that was located was that of actor Danny Kaye. His grave is a marble bench with several objects engraved on the front. There really isn’t any name engraved anywhere, though. Luckily, someone had placed two photos of the actor on a bench, letting us know we were in the right place.
Next up, we looked for Evangeline Booth, the first woman to hold the title of General of The Salvation Army. There is an entire Salvation Army section of the cemetery, and her tomb is surrounded by low, evergreen shrubs, like the center of a miniature hedge maze.
Then, I visited the grave of Billie Burke, the grave that first put this cemetery on my radar. She played Glinda in the original 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz.
Her grave is an intricate statue of a woman which sits under a giant Willow tree. A smaller stone is located nearby along with her husband, Florenz Ziegfeld. It’s something I never thought I’d see in person and one that you really need to see in person to understand its striking presence, even with heat, humidity, and wildfire smoke swirling in the late afternoon air.
Up the hill from Billie is the grave of Anne Bancroft. It’s located on a corner and sits at an angle near the top of a hill. Her stone stands out because it’s so white and contains a weeping angel on top. It feels both regal and sad.
Finally, I visited the grave of baseball legend Lou Gehrig. He shares a stone with his wife. It’s a relatively large stone surrounded by shrubs. Several baseballs and wiffle balls had been placed at the foot of the grave along with American flags and photos of Gehrig.
Babe Ruth was also buried nearby, but by then, I had run out of time. So, he will have to wait until my next trip to the area, as well as several other famous graves hidden in that cemetery that I have my eye on. The scavenger hunt never ends.
What is the most famous or memorable grave that you have visited? Leave your answers in the comments below!
Also see my previous posts on cemeteries:
My Guest Post about Andy Warhol on Ok Whatever
Using Cemeteries for Character and Story Ideas
Ranking The Best Places to Read
US Ghost Adventures Salem Ghost Tour Review + Discount Code
US Ghost Adventures Lizzie Borden House Tour Review + Discount Code
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