A historical marker in Savannah’s Colonial Park Cemetery reports that “nearly 700” victims of the 1820 yellow fever epidemic are buried there. In fact, exactly six-hundred and sixty-six people died of the disease. But the church had issues with putting the Number of the Beast on a sign, and demanded the figure be rounded up.
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That’s just one of the disquieting anecdotes from the Colonial Park Cemetery, established around 1750 and closed to burials just before the Civil War. Another concerns the original size of the cemetery. Today, it fits nicely into a tidy square bounded by Abercorn, Oglethorpe, Habersham and Perry, but it used to be much bigger. As Savannah grew, property developers began buying up the cemetery’s prime real estate. Since digging up and moving bodies is so troublesome, corpses were left where they were; only the headstones were moved. The result is that every building surrounding Colonial Park is built on top of the desecrated dead.
A number of prominent Georgians are buried in Colonial Park, though I’ll confess to have never heard of any of them. Someone called Button Gwinnett has the most impressive monument (and the coolest name). After the Civil War, occupying Union troops were garrisoned there, and some of the soldiers amused themselves by defacing tombstones, changing dates and names. I found the gravestone of a woman who supposedly died when she was twelve, but had a son who passed a year later at the age of fourteen.
A green, creepy oasis of death in the center of Savannah, Colonial Park Cemetery is the perfect place for a stroll on cold, sunny, winter afternoons.
Colonial Cemetery Info
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Colonial Cemetery Map
Colonial Cemetery FAQs
Is the Colonial Cemetery Haunted?
Many consider Colonial Park Cemetery to be one of the most haunted locations in Savannah. Guests often recount unsettling experiences, like catching sight of shadowy shapes, hearing soft whispers, or dealing with malfunctioning cameras. A notable story is about Renรฉ Asche Rondolier, a large man who faced murder accusations in the 1800s. Although thereโs no definitive evidence of his guilt, some believe his ghost continues to haunt the cemetery at night.
Who is buried in Colonial Park Cemetery?
Many of Savannah’s earliest residents, including Revolutionary War soldiers, politicians, and victims of the 1820 Yellow Fever epidemic, find their final resting place in the cemetery. Among those buried here is Button Gwinnett, who signed the Declaration of Independence, but unfortunately, the exact spot of his burial is not known.
Why are some tombstones in the cemetery damaged or altered?
While the Civil War raged on, Union soldiers camped in Savannah and allegedly committed acts of vandalism in the cemetery, altering tombstone dates to suggest that individuals had lived for centuries. Some headstones were moved or broken, and today, the displaced markers are displayed along the cemetery’s eastern wall.
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