Old City Cemetery (Lynchburg, Virginia) facts for kids
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Old City Cemetery
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Old City Cemetery, Lynchburg VA, View of Confederate Section, November 2008
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 4th, Monroe, 1st Sts. and Southern RR. tracks, Lynchburg, Virginia |
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| Area | 26 acres (11 ha) |
| Built | 1806 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73002216 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 2, 1973 |
The Old City Cemetery is a special historic place in Lynchburg, Virginia. It is the oldest cemetery owned by a city in Virginia that is still used today. It is also one of the oldest city cemeteries in the entire United States. Since the 1990s, it has been more than just a burial ground. It now works as a history park and a beautiful garden (called an arboretum).
Many people are buried here, though the exact number is not known. Experts believe between 18,000 and 20,000 people rest here. These people came from all parts of the local community. You can find city founders, soldiers, African American workers, and people from other countries. There are also those who were poor or just passing through town.
About two-thirds of the people buried in the cemetery were African American. It was the main burial place for African Americans in Lynchburg from 1806 to 1865. At that time, it was often the only place available for them to be buried. A notable person buried here was Ota Benga, who lived from about 1883 to 1916. He was from Congo and was once shown in "human zoos."
The cemetery also has a section for Confederate soldiers. Over 2,200 soldiers from 14 different states are buried there. The poet Bransford Vawter is also buried in this historic cemetery.
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Exploring Old City Cemetery
The Old City Cemetery was started on land given by John Lynch. He was one of the people who founded the city of Lynchburg. The original paper for the land said it must be used as a public burial ground or for a church. It could not be used for anything else. Today, the cemetery covers about 27 acres. It is cared for by the Southern Memorial Association.
A Place for Everyone: Diverse Burials
This cemetery is a unique place because so many different people are buried together. It tells the story of Lynchburg's past. You can learn about the city's early leaders and everyday people. The large number of African American burials shows their important role in the city's history. It helps us understand what life was like for everyone in Lynchburg long ago.
What You Can See: Museums and More
The Old City Cemetery is not just a place for graves. It also has four small museums right inside its grounds. These museums help visitors learn about history and life in the past.
The Pest House Medical Museum
This museum was once Lynchburg's very first hospital. It shows what medical care was like a long time ago.
Hearse House and Caretakers' Museum
Here, you can learn about the cemetery itself and how funerals were done in the past. A hearse is a special vehicle used to carry a coffin.
Station House Museum
This building is a rebuilt train station from the C&O Railway. It looks just like it would have during World War I.
Mourning Museum
This museum teaches visitors about old customs and traditions for mourning. Mourning is how people show sadness when someone dies.
The cemetery also has a special Chapel. It was built to celebrate 200 years since the cemetery started in 1806. Below the Chapel is a Columbarium. This is a place with niches and crypts for new burials today.
Gallery
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Pest House Museum, Old City Cemetery, Lynchburg VA, November 2008
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Pest House Museum (Sign), Old City Cemetery, Lynchburg VA, November 2008
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Station House Museum, Old City Cemetery, Lynchburg VA, November 2008
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Station House Museum (Sign), Old City Cemetery, Lynchburg VA, November 2008
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Chapel and Columbarium, Old City Cemetery, Lynchburg VA, November 2008
