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Top 10 Interesting Facts about the Bonaventure Cemetery

Bonaventure Cemetery Savannah By Michael Gimenez –

The Bonaventure cemetery became famous for its portrayal in the book and movie adaptation 鈥淢idnight in the Garden of Good and Evil鈥� by John Berendt. The success of the book led to the cemetery becoming a go-to tourist attraction.

Its haunting aura and beautiful sculptures  make the cemetery a sight to behold. But how much is known about this beautiful cemetery? Here are 10 interesting facts about the Bonaventure cemetery

1. There are underground grotto chapels at Bonaventure Cemetery

The Bonaventure Cemetery has been estimated to have about a dozen underground grotto chapels. These chapels grew popular during the Victorian era, for the eerie presence.

Back then, cemeteries were considered leisure parks and 鈥済ardens鈥� where people would gather.  Picnics were held by families with their deceased relatives as they flaunt their family鈥檚 wealth with ornate memorials.

The grotto chapels and crypts owned by families were disguised and sealed off to prevent thieves from breaking in. To this date, some underground chapels can still be identified by their large cement pad surrounding headstones.

2. Symbolism runs throughout the cemetery

Bonaventure Cemetery By Judson McCranie –

The Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah is covered by symbology such as the statue of a tree trunk at this particular gravesite for a WWI soldier to symbolize that he was an only child with no wife or children. You will find statues throughout the cemetery representing the seven virtues: chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness, and humility.

Statues of an angel symbolize the deceased being welcomed safely into heaven. In addition, there are grave markers in the shape of a small cradle indicating a child鈥檚 grave. 

The lettering also mattered, If the lettering on the headstone was raised instead of engraved, it was a sign of wealth as well as obelisks. The taller the obelisk, the more wealth was displayed with a maximum height of 5 feet tall as the heist allowed obelisks.

3. Bonaventure Cemetery stars in a book and movie

Bird Girl statue By Judson McCranie –

The bestselling novel and subsequent movie, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil caused an influx in tourism to the cemetery. The book features a statue known as Bird Girl that once resided in the cemetery.

The grave is located at Greenwich cemetery adjacent to Bonaventure Conrad. Aiken, the author of the book went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for poetry and became a National Book Award winner for his novels and short stories.

4. People have been said to be buried alive at Bonaventure Cemetery

Before technology became progressed, people with comas and low pulse rates were mistaken for dead and buried alive. This happened a lot across many cemeteries with scratch marks inside caskets as evidence when bodies were exhumed by grave robbers or medical physicians.

This phenomenon led to a string would be tied to the finger of the deceased and attached to a bell next to the grave. In hopes that if not deceased the person would wiggle the finger. The  鈥渟aved by the bell鈥� phrase was born from this.  Throughout the cemetery you can still find such bells.

5. The infamous little Gracie Watkins tomb is found here

Monument of Gracie Watson, created by Walz –

Gracie Watkins, made famous for supposedly haunting the Regions Bank making her grave a popular tourist attraction. Her parents managed the prestigious Pulaski hotel in Savannah where Gracie was said to be admired and loved by guests. 

After Gracie鈥檚 passing, many claimed to have heard her laughter and singing echoing throughout the halls of the hotel. This started the rumor of Gracie the ghost. Not long after, Pulaski Hotel was demolished and a caf茅 was built in its place. The patrons and workers of the caf茅 claim to still hear her laughter.

John Waltz carved a statue in Gracie Watkins memory. Her gravestone has become a famous go-to site when visiting the cemetery and rumor has it that Gracie plays pranks on unsuspecting people, some say they have seen apparitions of her in 1880s attire wandering around the bank and other locations around Savannah.

6. A famous sculptor created over 100 monuments for the cemetery

John Walz was a famous German sculptor who studied sculpting in 麻豆APP and Vienna and had a successful career in sculpting in the United States of America. His employer commissioned him to create the statues that stand in front of Telfair Academy in the savannah.

John quickly fell in love with the cemetery. He made 100 monuments and sculptures that were hand-carved and can be found at throughout the  Cemetery, including Gracie Watkins.

 After his death, he was buried in a grave marked by a simple wooden sign in the cemetery. The Bonaventure Historical Society commissioned a monument in its place to honor him for his contributions. They also dedicated a 4,000 square foot memorial garden in his name, as well as naming a street in the cemetery in his honor.

7. The co-founder of Capitol Records was laid to rest in the cemetery

Johnny Mercer is among Savannah鈥檚, and Bonaventure鈥檚, most famous residents. Born in Savannah in 1909, he moved to New York where he started his career. He met his big break when he wrote songs for major motion pictures and became one of America鈥檚 most notable songwriters.

Even winning four Academy Awards for Best Original Song. In 1942 he co-founded Capitol Records, the first West Coast-based record label. After his death in 1976, his body was transported and buried in his family鈥檚 plot at Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah.

8. The ash remains of the Holocaust victims is found at Bonaventure Cemetery

Bonaventure has reserved a Jewish cemetery with many of the headstones engraved with the picture of two hands touching at thumbs with their middle fingers split in a 鈥淰鈥�. This symbology is a traditional Jewish blessing.

The most notable graves in the Jewish cemetery contain the ash remains of 344 victims who perished at the Hannover-Ahlem Concentration camp during the Holocaust

9. John Muir slept on the graves at Bonaventure

The 鈥淔ather of the National Parks鈥�, John Muir was an early advocate for wilderness preservation. He became famous due to his 1,000-mile walk from Indiana to the Gulf of Mexico  to experience and study the natural world.

During his infamous trek, he spent six days and nights in the Bonaventure Cemetery. He stated that sleeping on the graves was the safest and cheapest accommodation that he could find.

Moreover, through his experience, he wrote a whole chapter 鈥淐amping in the Tombs鈥� in his book, A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf. He referred to Bonaventure as a place 鈥渟o beautiful that almost any sensible person would choose to dwell here with the dead rather than with the lazy, disorderly living.鈥�

10. The cemetery has a nonprofit group

The entrance to Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia. Photo by en:Carmen Cordelia. –

The cemetery became the subject of a non-profit group, the Bonaventure Historical Society, in May 1997. The Bonaventure Historical Society was formed to aid in the preservation and conservation of Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah.

The dedicated volunteers from the group give free, guided tours each month to raise money for preservation as well as educate the public on the beauty and history of the cemetery.

There you have it! 10 interesting things about the Bonaventure Cemetery that I hope inspire you to book a trip.