Historic Natchez City Cemetery
A visit to Natchez is not complete without a tour of the Natchez City Cemetery. Established in 1822 on the bluffs high above the Mississippi River, its occupants’ stories reveal the history, grandeur, mystery, and tragedy that tell the story of Natchez. The beautiful grounds provide breath-taking views of the Mississippi River – never more beautiful than at sunset. Majestic live oaks shadow the drive into the cemetery leading to the Shelter House, which serves as the main office.
The city’s earlier cemetery was located in Memorial Park adjacent to St. Mary’s Basilica in downtown Natchez. In 1822 remains of most burials there were reinterred at the current Natchez City Cemetery, along with remains from private plantation and churchyard burial grounds.
In addition to the wonderful stories associated with the people buried at the Natchez City Cemetery, a tour provides an amazing view of iron fences, benches, tombstones, monuments, and other works of art and master craftsmanship. Talented marble workers such as Edwin Lyon and Robert Rawes are credited with many of the lovely, sculpted monuments erected in the antebellum era. Inscriptions on the monuments are often moving, thought-provoking, and insightful. The iron work seen at the Natchez City Cemetery creates a remarkably representative display of 19th and early 20th century ironwork produced in America.
The Natchez City Cemetery opens each day at 7 AM. The gates are locked at dusk, so plan your visit accordingly. Visitors are welcome to tour on their own. A CD offering a self-guided tour of the cemetery can be obtained at the Cemetery’s Main Office or at the Natchez Visitor Reception Center.
“The Turning Angel”
This beautiful angel monument is overlooking five headstones, each with the same date of death.
On March 14, 1908, there was a HUGE explosion at the Natchez Drug Company, which was a 5-story brick structure located at the corner of Main and South Union Street cattycorner from the Natchez Cathedral. The explosion was so massive it totally destroyed the 5-story building killing numerous people including the businesses employees that were working at the time.
The explosion put the drug company out of business, but the owner of the Natchez Drug Company was so devastated that he purchased a lot to bury his employees and he purchased this angel monument to place at their gravesite. His youngest employee was 12 years old.
This monument is now referred to as ‘The Turning Angel’ because at night when cars drive by on Cemetery Road their headlights shine upon the monument and to some it appears to turn as their car passes by.
This is just one of the many stories of people buried at the Natchez City Cemetery.
This cache is placed near the middle of this beautiful cemetery. As always, please be respectful of it. If you have a long wheel-based vehicle, you might consider walking to the cache.
Thanks to Kash785 for allowing me to adopt.