Natchez City Cemetery

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About Natchez City Cemetery

A tour of the Natchez City Cemetery is a glimpse back in time to the early days of historic Natchez, revealing the rich and colorful tapestry of this early Southern city on the Mississippi River.

Located on Cemetery Road, the Natchez City Cemetery overlooks the Mississippi River and is beautifully situated. It was established in 1822 and is on approximately 100 acres of land.

The old burying ground was on a high hill where Memorial Park and St. Mary's Cathedral are located in downtown Natchez. Samual Brooks, the first Mayor of Natchez, from 1803-1811, is still buried there. When the cemetery was established in its present location, the remains from the old burial ground were gradually moved to the present site north of the town.

Markers with dates of deaths in the late 1700s testify to the fact that the remains were also moved from church yards and private plantation burial grounds. Romantic, tragic and mysterious tales lie buried in the old graves.

Numerous noteworthy persons are buried in the cemetery, and there are four Confederate Generals buried within its gates. Their distinction is identified by the old red Southern Cross of Honor markers placed on their graves.

Many Louisiana people from nearby parishes across the Mississippi River were buried in Natchez City Cemetery as a precaution against the occasional flooding of Louisiana cemeteries by the Mississippi.

Numerous beautiful, creatively designed iron fences, benches, iron mausoleum doors, tombstones, and monuments are found within the cemetery. The varied patterns of iron work represent almost the entire spectrum of iron work produced in America in the 19th and early 20th Centuries. Artistically sculptured markers with often poignant inscriptions add to the unique character of the burial ground.

The majority of the signed marble work dates to before the Civil War. Edwin Lyon and Robert Rawes, two of the most prolific and outstanding antebellum marble workers can be credited with many of the beautifully sculpted monuments. There were numbers of other talented artisans whose work contributes to the beauty of the cemetery.

The Natchez City Cemetery is open every day from 7 am until dusk. Visit their website for more information.

www.natchezcitycemetery.com/custom/webpage.cfm?content=co...