1. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Cemeteries hold more than headstones and quiet pathways, they hold stories that refuse to fade. Across the U.S., some burial grounds have become legendary for their ghostly tales, drawing visitors who are as curious about the spirits as they are about the history. This historic New Orleans burial ground is best known as the resting place of Marie Laveau, the city’s famous voodoo queen. Her tomb, often marked with offerings of beads, coins, and candles, is a focal point for visitors hoping to gain her favor. Over the years, many have claimed to see her spirit wandering the narrow, maze-like aisles dressed in a red and white turban. Some say she whispers blessings, while others report an uneasy chill that seems to follow them. The above-ground crypts and centuries-old traditions give this cemetery a haunting beauty, but it’s Marie Laveau’s lingering presence that makes it unforgettable.
2. Hollywood Forever Cemetery (Los Angeles, California)
Hollywood Forever isn’t just a cemetery , it’s part of Hollywood’s story. Stars like Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney are buried here, but the spirit most often spoken about is silent film idol Rudolph Valentino. Visitors and staff have described mysterious cold spots and shadows near his mausoleum, with some even claiming to see his tall figure lingering nearby. For years, a mysterious woman in black also appeared at his grave, adding to the cemetery’s legend. With film screenings and cultural events held on the grounds, Hollywood Forever blends glamour and ghostliness, reminding visitors that even in death, the spotlight sometimes lingers.
3. Arlington National Cemetery (Arlington, Virginia)
As one of America’s most solemn burial sites, Arlington is known for honoring the nation’s fallen, but it is also home to chilling stories. Visitors have reported sightings of ghostly Civil War soldiers still standing among the endless rows of white headstones. Guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier have spoken of a heavy, watchful presence during quiet night hours, as if unseen eyes are continuing their eternal duty. The air here often feels different , weighted with both reverence and mystery. While people come to remember sacrifice, many leave with a sense that the past is still quietly watching.
4. Resurrection Cemetery (Justice, Illinois)
Perhaps the most famous haunted cemetery tale in America comes from Resurrection Cemetery, where the legend of “Resurrection Mary” has endured for decades. Drivers along Archer Avenue often tell of a young woman in a white dress hitchhiking by the road. Those who offer her a ride are stunned when she disappears as they approach the cemetery gates. The story is so widely known that it has become a cornerstone of Chicago ghost lore. Whether Mary was a real woman struck down tragically or a spirit created through generations of retelling, her ghost has kept the cemetery’s name alive across the country.
5. Bonaventure Cemetery (Savannah, Georgia)
Bonaventure Cemetery is as beautiful as it is eerie, with moss-draped oaks, marble statues, and winding pathways that look like a scene from another century. Popularized by the book and film Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, the site has become a symbol of Savannah’s ghostly charm. Visitors often share stories of encountering spectral children playing among the graves or hearing dogs barking where none are present. The combination of haunting legends and striking scenery makes Bonaventure one of the South’s most memorable cemeteries, where beauty and mystery walk hand in hand among the stones.
6. Gettysburg National Cemetery (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
Gettysburg is remembered as one of the most tragic battlefields in American history, and its cemetery carries echoes of that sorrow. Visitors often report seeing ghostly figures of soldiers pacing the grounds, as if still standing guard over their fallen comrades. Some describe hearing distant drumbeats or muffled gunfire in the silence of the night. The cemetery’s heavy atmosphere is undeniable, layered with grief from one of the Civil War’s bloodiest battles. For many, walking here feels less like visiting a historic site and more like stepping into a place where the past has never fully gone away.
7. Sleepy Hollow Cemetery (Sleepy Hollow, New York)
Tied to Washington Irving’s famous tale, this cemetery feels like stepping into folklore itself. Irving rests here, but it’s the legend of the Headless Horseman that draws many curious visitors. Locals say the phantom rider still charges through the area under moonlit skies, keeping the story alive. The crooked tombstones, shadowed trees, and rolling hills only add to the eerie atmosphere. Ghost hunters flock here, hoping to catch glimpses of strange lights or misty figures, while literary fans come to see where fact and myth intertwine. Sleepy Hollow remains one of the most atmospheric and storied cemeteries in the country.
8. Stull Cemetery (Stull, Kansas)
Few cemeteries are surrounded by as much chilling folklore as Stull. Nicknamed one of the “Seven Portals to Hell,” it has a reputation that spans decades of whispered stories. Legends tell of witches, apparitions, and even appearances by the Devil himself on certain nights. Though much of this is rooted in folklore rather than documented history, the cemetery’s isolated setting and long-held rumors keep its sinister reputation alive. Local authorities discourage trespassing, yet thrill-seekers continue to visit, hoping to witness something beyond the ordinary. Stull Cemetery is proof that sometimes the story itself is enough to make a place feel haunted.
9. Union Cemetery (Easton, Connecticut)
Union Cemetery is best known for its most chilling resident: the “White Lady.” For decades, people have reported seeing a woman in a flowing white gown drifting along Route 59 near the graveyard. Drivers have even claimed she appeared suddenly in front of their cars, only to vanish on impact. Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren spent years researching the site, calling it one of the most haunted in America. With so many consistent reports over the years, the legend of the White Lady has cemented Union Cemetery’s reputation as a hotspot for supernatural encounters in New England.
10. Howard Street Cemetery (Salem, Massachusetts)
Salem’s haunted reputation is forever linked to the witch trials of 1692, and Howard Street Cemetery holds one of its darkest stories. It is said to be haunted by Giles Corey, a man who was pressed to death with stones after refusing to enter a plea during the trials. According to legend, his ghost appears before tragedies in Salem as a grim warning. Visitors walking the cemetery paths have described feeling sudden dread or catching glimpses of a shadowy figure near his grave. The site stands as both a memorial to injustice and a chilling reminder of a past steeped in fear.
Bonus: The Origin of the “Graveyard Shift”
The phrase dates back to the 1800s, when watchmen were hired to guard cemeteries overnight. Their job was to prevent grave robbing and to listen for bells tied to coffins, in case someone had been accidentally buried alive. These men would patrol the quiet grounds in the darkest hours, waiting for a faint ring that might signal the unthinkable. Over time, this eerie responsibility gave rise to the term “graveyard shift,” a name that still carries a haunting edge today.
This story 10 Haunted Cemeteries in America (and the Creepy Origin of the Term “Working the Graveyard Shift”) was first published on Daily FETCH
