This expansive field, not far from downtown Savannah is a peaceful retreat from the busy streets and businesses around. The Colonial Park Cemetery has a long history, almost as old as Savannah herself. The first burial occurred at the site of Colonial Park in 1750. For almost 100 years many of the burials which took place in Savannah took place in Colonial Park Cemetery. Many prominent Savannahians were buried in Colonial Park Cemetery. The last burial in Colonial Park took place around 1850. After this time Laurel Grove Cemetery was used as the main Cemetery in Savannah. We strolled around reading about the history of the city. Many of the stones were so old that the engravings could not be read anymore...and there were many stones that referred to Providence or Rhode Island natives or sons. Interesting. read more

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This is a great place to go for a stroll or walk your dog. If you love history like me, it was really cool being able to see these really old headstones and tombstones. The cemetery was very well kept and honestly one of the nicest I've visited. Definitely recommend! read more

Colonial Park Cemetery - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

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Had the opportunity to visit Colonial Park Cemetary and a lot of history in this cemetary. It is spaced out well, good walking paths. It is very well maintained. Take your time and embrace the history that is here. read more

Colonial Park Cemetery - Cemetary - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

Today I visited the colonial cemetery in Savannah and I didn't see a lot of graves and many of the grave tombstones were unreadable due to age, but what I did see was one gravestone with the name of a Mrs. Gracie, and people have left on her tomb, little trinkets and coins and little kid toys. I think these people have her confused with little Gracie tombstone at the Bonaventure cemetery. read more

My wife took us to Colonial Park Cemetery because she thinks it's a cool historical site in Savannah. I agree with her. Today, this cemetery is more like a park. It's located close to the center of the city's Historic District. Specifically, it's in the North Historic District. The cemetery is six acres and contains about 9,000-10,000 graves (not that many headstones, though). Supposedly, some of the graves extend beyond the fences and lie beneath the roads and sidewalks. Maybe that's made up for ghost stories. Colonial Cemetery opened in 1750. Its final interment or burial was in 1853. The cemetery ran out of space and subsequent interments were at Laurel Grove. Today, Laurel Grove Cemetery totals 157 acres between Laurel Grove North (67 acres) and Laurel Grove South (90 acres). Those two, Colonial, Bonaventure, Evergreen, and Greenwich make up Savannah's six municipal cemeteries. Most of those buried at Colonial were born in the 1700s. I came across a sign that said, "In this cemetery many victims of the Great Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1820 were buried. Nearly 700 Savannahians died that year, including two local physicians who lost their lives caring for the stricken." There are several informational signs around the park like this. There's a special entrance at the corner of Abercorn St and E Oglethorpe Ave. The entrance is made of stone and has an eagle sculpture on top. One of the plaques reads, "In memory of Patriots of War American Revolution 1775-1783 resting in Colonial Cemetery." Just inside this was a sign for "Colonial Park." It gave a brief history along with a list of the "distinguished dead." The sign said the cemetery "became a city park in 1896." The remains of Revolutionary War Major-General Nathanael Greene (1742-1786) were originally buried here. After the Civil War, they were moved under an obelisk memorializing him at Johnson Square. Button Gwinnett (1735-1777) is buried here. He was one of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence and one of three signers from Georgia. His signature is the first one on the left. Gwinnett County is named after him. The park/cemetery is nice to look at with all its different trees -- bald cypress, cedar, elm, ginkgo, live oak, Magnolia, and palmetto. Overall, I think this is a neat place worth visiting. It's good for a stroll. read more

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This is not the famous cemetery that people look for in Savannah (that's Bonaventure). Nonetheless, it is a spot to look for while visiting the city's downtown. It has some interesting historical plaques and there is plenty of history to plaque about. There are a few benches, but it's mostly a place that one strolls through. It's also a good area to look for free parking that's walkable to the main attractions of the city. read more

Colonial Park Cemetery - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

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If you like cemeteries this one has a lot of Savannah history in a lovely setting. That's all I have to say about it.

My wife was pretty upset when we realized in New Orleans, all too late, that the "cemetery tours" were closed for the day. She had been looking forward to them for weeks before our cross-country road trip, but we just didn't plan that part of the journey well enough. Aside: I don't ever need to go back to New Orleans, either. There, I said it. A couple of weeks later on our trip, we found ourselves in Savannah, GA... a city we immediately fell in love with. As luck would have it, we parked the truck right next to the Colonial Park Cemetery, and, finding the gates open, we gathered our reverence and went inside the boundary. Immediately, we were intrigued by the age of the headstones, and quickly realized that several founding fathers of our nation were buried here, including one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. A quick check of the internet on the phones revealed more information about this place. The cemetery served the community from 1750 to 1853, the latter date being the last time anyone was interred here. More than 700 Savannah residents who succumbed to yellow fever in the early 1800s are interred here too, in a mass grave. I scolded someone's kid who was running around in there like he was at the park when he ran into a 250 year old gravestone. Told him to go stand by his mom before one of the ghosts that lives here grabs him and pulls him into the ground. His mom gave me the stink eye later during our visit, but that kid didn't step on another grave and didn't leave his mom's side the rest of the time I saw him there. Once a principal... always a.... anyway.... During our visit, the skies opened up with rain, thunder, and lightning, adding to the solemn effect of our visit. We took a few photos and left a few prayers before leaving, with the shared feeling that there was a lot more history than what we learned in our short visit. I'm not sure what we missed in New Orleans, but this was definitely a place I'm glad we got to see in Savannah. read more

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Beautiful spot to walk around on your trip to Savannah. You can take a short walk through the park or a longer stay by reading the plaques and headstones. Lots of shade and dog-friendly. read more

I have a great love for old, historic cemeteries and this one was a true gem. I had the opportunity to spend a rainy morning walking through this beautiful cemetery with very few other visitors on the grounds. The weather seemed appropriate in helping me to imagine the lives of those who had once lived in this area. read more

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I love cemeteries.... the vibe and ambiance are out of this world ( just had to say that). Seriously there is so much history here it is worth a visit. read more

Colonial Park Cemetery - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

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Founded in 1750, this is one of Savannah's oldest cemeteries containing the city's earliest settlers. When the cemetery was created for the Christ Church Parish, this area was the British Province of Georgia. Seven hundred victims of Yellow fever were laid to rest in a mass grave in 1820. It is rumored the real number was 666 but they rounded up so not to have record the number of the beast. From 1740 until 1877 the cemetery served as the city's dueling grounds making it more convenient to bury the loser since they didn't need to be transported anywhere. By 1789, the cemetery had expanded three times from it's original size. On December 24 of 1864, General Sherman famously presented the city of Savannah to President Lincoln as a Christmas present as sixty thousand Union soldiers camped out in Colonial Park Cemetery. During the cold winter some of the soldiers utilized tombs for shelter. Savannah was spared the destruction of Atlanta but Union soldiers are said to have left their mark on the city in another way, by altering the gravestones in Colonial Cemetery. On the west wall of the cemetery is a row of gravestones the soldiers were said to have dug up. Other grave markers had their dates altered. While tour guides like to blame Sherman's army for the disarray, many graves were moved to make room for Yellow Fever victims and the graveyard has been a target for vandals for centuries. In 1896 the cemetery became a park, forty-three years after the last burial. The cemetery was closed in 1853, eight years before the start of the Civil War. That is why there aren't any Confederate soldiers buried here. For one hundred and three years this was Savannah's primary cemetery. Notable burials in this cemetery include Button Gwinnett, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, Samuel Elbert, a Revolutionary War soldier and governor of Georgia, Lachlan Mcintosh, Major General in the Continental Army, and John Habersham, member of Continental Congress. There are over nine thousand graves in the cemetery. During the Ghost City Dead of Night Tour I learned that the graves spill out from under the gates of the cemetery but you can't see them. That doesn't shock me as Florida is built all over people's graves. I also learned that the cemetery used to be open 24 hours until a sacrifice involving a goat and chicken took place. If you want to walk around inside the gates it must be between 8 and 5 November through March and 8 to 8 March through November. There are a number of interesting historical markers throughout the cemetery. The great history found here made Colonial Park Cemetery high on my list of places to visit on my last trip to Savannah. read more

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One of Savannah's oldest and most haunted cemeteries! What amazing history this Cemetery has. The Cemetery is open to the public from 8:00a to 8:00p and you don't need a tour guide to sign you in unlike the St Louis Cemetery No.1 in New Orleans. The most famous person to be buried in Colonial Park Cemetery is Button Gwinnett. Button Gwinnett was most well known for being one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. One of the most famous duels was between Button Gwinnett and Lachlan McIntosh. Mr. Gwinnett met his end after a duel with Lachlan McIntosh who is also buried here. The Cemetery seemed small for the many people that were buried at Colonial Park but there was one section where nearly 700 victims of the Great Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1820 were laid to rest here. According to our tour guide (from our haunted walking tour) the actual number was 666 but it didn't seem appropriate to print that number. We didn't see this the morning we first came here so we had to go back and see. Many more duels would take place in and around the area including the burial site of the Duellist's Grave. The number of angry, dueling men that lost their lives on the grounds is unknown. It wouldn't surprise me if these tortured souls remained at the very location that their lives sadly ended. Haunted! The cemetery seemed a bit neglected and many structures have deteriorated but it was a memorable experience to be able to stroll through the grounds. The Colonial Park Cemetery is older than our country itself. It was established in 1750 during the British colonization of the land so it gave us a first-hand glimpse into its interesting history. Very cool. Review #1831 read more

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There are some reviews I perused after visiting the cemetery that I found very interesting with the history of it. We had a foodie tour that mentioned the 666 number of people that lost their lives and how they rounded up... this cemetery is just kitty corner to our airBNB so we walked across to stroll through. I think it's beautiful and just the history of it makes it 5 stars. I'm not into all the haunted things it would be cool if I was just not sure I believe in all that, regardless I pay tribute and respect to the lives buried here as it says they are patriots of the Revolutionary War. There are many walking paths that lead you to different graves. It isn't flower blooming season I guess but it's still lovely grounds and there were people there working on it. I love the weeping willow looking tree. If you like history, I'd say of course go here if you're in the area. Later on today we were in another part of town and a group of hipster kids walked by me and one of them was overhead saying "I mean, I've never really chilled in a cemetery before", and I realize I guess that's what I did , and it was nice. Go for it kid. #overheardinSavannah read more

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This is a beautiful cemetery with a ton of history. If you walk around, you will see gravestones from the 1800s. There are history markers around the cemetery so you can read about notable events that happened there and also some notable people who are buried here. I believe it's in the downtown vicinity, so if you walk by it, it definitely worth checking out. read more

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This is a very interesting place to visit. Supposedly one of the most haunted places in a broadly haunted area. So much history-to be felt here. A little research before your visit (or a guide ) will add information and interest to your foot tour . This is the oldest cemetery in an old market -port city .Thoughtful Gentleman in olden days would "do -the-duel "here to prevent any fuss as far as transportation for the loser Also many founding fathers and people of historical significance are buried here . But also countless nameless persons of every diverse background. The Colonial Cemetery is first and foremost the original city graveyard in a colonial port city . Also the "mass graves" used at the height of the 1918 flu epidemic are located here . All-in-all , claims that the cemetery is probably "haunted " seem likely? You definitely can feel a creepy vibe , I. My Opinion. Unfortunate--- but worth noting is : This cemetery is closed and locked up at night , all the "GHOST TOURS " stop here BUT , outside the walls ? If you want to actually"visit "the infamous haunted graveyard,,, you have to do it during daylight hours . read more

Colonial Park Cemetery - The Duelist Grave - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

Who doesn't like a dose of dead people. The cemetery has some pretty cool Tombstones, grave markers, and memorial's. The cemetery was only being used from 1700 to 1800 so it's a nice walk down some of history. If you're into the 17 and 1800s it's definitely worth a stop to stroll around. One of the grave markers the woman had five children who all died within two years. Strolling through an old cemetery Isn't something that's for everyone but if you like old cemeteries then you get where I'm coming from and this is definitely worth a visit read more

Colonial Park Cemetery - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

This was a cool old cemetery that we saw as we were on a walking food tour on the east side of Savannah. It reminded me a little of the cemeteries in New oleans read more

Colonial Park Cemetery - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

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A beautiful landscape. It's bittersweet walking through to see the beauty but also sadness of the civil war era. I loved seeing the historic graves. Some headstones are so old and unkept you cannot read any words on them - but I don't believe that's any fault of the parks. I wish someone could clean them up as a nice service. read more

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This was a interesting little graveyard from the 1800s with an area of yellow fever victims. I took pictures of many historical plaques for your reading pleasure. If you walk in the grass, keep moving. If you step on a fire anthill, those tiny fellas have a fierce bite. There is a back wall where they have stacked many of the broken and loose gravestones. Enjoy the photos. Happy Yelping. See you on Yelp. read more

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Colonial Park Cemetery is a quiet spot in the heart of downtown Savannah that is full of history...literally. Gravestones dating back to the 1700's and some that are entirely illegible they're so old. I'm in awe of the respect that Savannah shows by preserving history. If visiting Savannah, Colonial Park Cemetery is a sunny place for a quiet stroll while paying your respects, taking in history, or experiencing the ambiance of a reportedly haunted cemetery. Leashed dogs are allowed and in-ground trash cans are available throughout for picking up after your pet. Please be respectful. read more

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Creepy little cemetery in the heart of downtown Savannah. The tombstones are so old that they are barely legible. However, this is a beautiful and peaceful place to walk around, especially when the flowers are in bloom. I would recommend reading about the history of the cemetery or taking a guided tour before walking through it. There is even a playground on the premises, which is supposed to be haunted. I took a lot of pictures here, and loved walking through this place that is rich with history. read more

A trip through the history of Savannah and America for that matter. The five acre cemetery contains monuments from the 1700's. There are numerous historical markers throughout the cemetery which provide a brief glimpse into the history of Savannah, the South, and America. Plan to take time to read the markers and immerse yourself in the rich history the cemetery contains. The beauty of the Live Oaks draped in Spanish Moss provides a peaceful space to stroll. read more

Strolling around Historic District checking out the lovely small parks (also referred to as squares)... admiring the great architecture and colorful landscaping... And how cool... we walk up upon a cemetery; something I love to visit in other cities that also have "real" historical value. What really caught my eye was the archway entrance gate with an impressive statue of an eagle set on top. It just draws you into the cemetery... Once inside I was a little let down since it didn't look as lovely as when John Cusack was walking with Kevin Spacey in the 1997 film "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil"... AHHHH.... I'm at the wrong cemetery; but since I'm already here I decided to learn a thing or two about the Colonial Park Cemetery... here's what I learned: *** The first burial was in 1750 and the last was around 1850 *** Yellow Fever was a problem in the late 1700's (and early 1800's) and in 1820 the city of Savannah buried roughly 700 bodies in a mass grave; can you imagine; 700 bodies in a mass grave (mind boggling). Ironically, the ghost tour companies like to adjust that body count to 666 (the number of the devil). *** During the Civil War, the Union soldiers camped out on the cemetery grounds and because the soldiers had too much free time on their hands, many of the soldiers vandalized the tombstones by changing the dates (making it appear that many of the buried lived over 1,000 years of age before before their demise) If you're in the area, then "yes" it is worth walking thru the cemetery, but I wouldn't go out of my way as a "must see" destination. You're better off visiting Bonaventure Cemetery; much more of a "must see" destination. read more

I spent a LONG time in this cemetery. Which I guess would be weird, but it was Colonial Park Cemetery sooo... let's go with it not being weird. I first learned about this cemetery from our hotel bartender. He claimed it was better to visit than Bonaventure (which I also visited because I guess I like cemeteries). If you compared the two, I'd have to agree with hotel-bartender guy. This place was fascinating. To know: 1) Lots of signs to read above graves. Even one about Yellow Fever victims. 2) Thousands of people buried here. You'd never guess! 3) Closes at dusk each night. 4) Nice for a stroll, but be respectful. 5) No ghosts. read more

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Beautiful old cemetery within walking distance of River Street. Lots of interesting historical plaques that tell parts of the history of early Savannah in a free, open air environment. If you are familiar with the State of Georgia, you'll realize many of the counties of the State are named after individuals interred in this cemetery. Tales of duels, plagues and valour are highlighted on the various plaques. Many of the headstones have been relcated leaning against the east wall of the cemetery as the cemetery had fallen into disrepear during the middle of the 20th century and headstones had been vandalized and removed from the graves. Fortunately these were not thrown out and are still mostly legible and the remaining cemetery has been maintaied nicely. read more

This place was neat. Although you should read about it before you show up! I stumbled across it then read about it later and had to go back. I'd like to see it at night since its supposed to be the most haunted spot in the city. read more

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Walking along and stopped in to explore. Old tombstones, grave markers and vaults scattered about. Some tombstones were so old the were crumbling, others had fallen over and been moved against the property wall. What amazed me was the number of young children and infants that had passed away due to the yellow fever outbreak. Markers dot different graves along the paths and let you know of historical or important figures in Savannah's history. read more

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Beautiful, whimsical, central, open late, etc., this cemetery is not a creepy place but a fun place to visit. Many of the headstones are beautifully decorated and tell a story of times past. I really enjoyed the artistic aspect of these decorations, but being able to step back in time is also a treat. You will cross paths with this location, so you might as well step inside. read more

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Historical cemetery in Savannah, Georgia. Please be respectful when visiting. Well maintained grounds.

A tranquil and historical plot of land in the center of Savannahs Historic District. Not as well known as the famous Bonaventure Cemetery several miles south of here, but most worthy of a visit. Lots of historical markers to commemorate and explain events and people buried here. There were 2 standouts for me. The first was seeing the broken tombstones that have been mounted against an old wall, haunting in the tale that placed them there. The other was seeing the tomb of Button Gwinnett, a name I remember from my younger years studying American history, also one of the most expensive autographs ever sold. A must stop for everyone visiting Savannah's Historic District, a few minute stroll to gather the macabre ambiance, or an hour plus to dig into the historical context of the founding of Georgia and Savannah. read more

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If you want to get the full story of the cemetery, I suggest taking a history tour or ghost walk (I highly rec the tour guide Pierce from Creepy Crawly, whom dispelled some wrong facts that get thrown around about the site). Because of some many of the headstones being gone or misplaced, there isn't as much to look at in the cemetery during the day when it's open for visitation. Though you should definitely still visit! Make sure to walk to the back wall to see the tombstones without a home and just imagine how this cemetery was full and no longer taking internments by the time the Union army camped here. The location makes it an easy stop while you stroll around the historic district but if you're interested in a lot of the details of the cemetery then book yourself a history tour. read more

Colonial Park Cemetery - Tombstones mounted to the back wall - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

Pretty interesting place. It was right across from my Airbnb, and it was on a lot of haunted lists. I strolled in one night while listening to the history of the cemetery on my phone. There are lots of interesting gravemarkers and people buried here. I made sure to come back the next day so I can read some of the tombstones. Definitely worth a visit. read more

What's not to like about a cemetery? I came here twice, once when I first got into town and took a stroll through, and again with a late night ghost tour that walked along the fence. It's small but beautiful, everything in Savannah is beautiful. There are plaques that give some information about the history but I would do a little reading on your own as well, or talk to someone at a museum. read more

Colonial Park Cemetery - Oyster shells in the walkway - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

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This was an amazing place to visit. It was so interesting with all the history and the old gravestones. You can spend a few hours here reading all the headstones. This is a can't miss if you are in Savannah!! read more

Colonial Park Cemetery - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

History buffs, rejoice! Colonial Park Cemetery is a historical cemetery right in the heart of downtown Savannah. I walk by it on my way to work every morning, so I recently decided to walk through and check it out. What a neat spot! Although most of the graves are difficult to read due to aging, there are plenty of historical markers to explain all the fun details. There are many famous Savannahians buried here. The Georgia Declaration of Independence signer, the first President of Georgia, and many Revolutionary soldiers. There's also a plaque indicating that over 700 victims of the Yellow Fever epidemic are buried in this cemetery. Savannah's known to be a haunted city, and I definitely get an eerie kind of vibe walking through here. The cemetery is a popular spot for local ghost tours. But Colonial Park is also a nice place to walk around and pick up some cool Savannah facts! read more

Colonial Park Cemetery - Cemetery hours - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

If you're interested in history, cemeteries and all things creepy, this is a must stop in Savannah. We stopped outside of here while on a walking city tour. I won't spoil all of the details from that tour, but there are several stories about displaced bodies. Historical figures who later would be honored, but no one was certain where their exact burial was. That strange sense of knowledge just might've tainted my view on the place, making it eerier than it actually was. If you're looking for things to do while on a tour of the squares, I do recommend that you plan a stroll around. If you're brave, go in. read more

So glad that our morning walking tour passed by this cemetery because we came back later that afternoon to walk through it more thoroughly. What a piece of history and southern culture you will find here amidst the overhanging Spanish moss, hardly-legible headstones, signs about the city's challenges it faced with the Yellow Fever Epidemic. Make sure to check out all the headstones that line the back side of the cemetery. They have no actual burial sites to be a part of, and they help to tell the stories of so many of Savannah's residents who moved there from cities in the New England, Ohio, and New Jersey areas. This is a good, centrally located, little cemetery to appreciate whether you make it to the more-well known Bonaventure Cemetery, or not. read more

Colonial Park Cemetery - Informative - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

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This is about as far back as the history books go for the US. We first came through here on a Haunting Tour where we learned some history about the brick wall lined with broken tomb stones to the actual boundaries of the cemetery footprint. We later came back and walked through (not able to walk through at night - tours will tell you why). So much history here, it's a unique piece of history that should be experienced at least once. Take the time to come here and visit and remember. read more

It's odd when I realize that every visit I've made to Savannah has brought me face-to-face with Colonial Park Cemetery. Whether or not the reason is that some long lost ancestors are calling me back, it is home to a great deal of history. I highly recommend doing your research pre-visit or jumping from tomb to tomb to discover stories of long-lost hero's and villains alike. And you probably won't want to visit the cemetery for it's beautiful side, but it is bomb for it's factual and historical side. Not only will you find over 700 yellow fever victims here, but you'll also find big names like: Major General Nathanael Greene and Button Gwinnett, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. read more

Colonial Park Cemetery - Entrance - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Savannah, Georgia