Things to Do at Hollywood Cemetery

Hollywood Cemetery might sound like it belongs in Los Angeles, but this large Victorian-era cemetery in Richmond is one of the most historically significant burial grounds in the United States. Established in 1847, it sits on 135 acres of rolling hills overlooking the James River, and honestly, it's more like a peaceful park than what you might expect from a cemetery. The name comes from the holly trees that once covered the area, not the entertainment industry. What makes Hollywood Cemetery remarkable is who's buried here - you'll find two U.S. Presidents (James Monroe and John Tyler), Confederate President Jefferson Davis, and thousands of Civil War soldiers. The cemetery is a tangible connection to American history, the Civil War era, when Richmond was the Confederate capital. Walking through here, you get a real sense of how the past layers onto the present in a city like Richmond.

Hollywood Cemetery sits at 412 South Cherry Street in Richmond's Fan District. Free parking near the entrance-but weekends fill up fast. You can walk here from downtown Richmond hotels in about 15-20 minutes through the Fan or Museum District. Public transit won't help. Drive, walk, or grab a rideshare instead. The entrance hides behind stone pillars and iron gates that are easy to miss from the street.