Hollywood Cemetery
4.7(358)google
4.8(118)yelp
HistoryHistoric BuildingCivil WarPhoto SpotSlow-Paced
Overview
Steeped heavily in deep, dramatic, and intensely nostalgic American presidential and military history, Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond stands proudly as a historic coastal bluff sanctuary. The walkable parkland features elegant 19th-century Gothic stone monuments, historic iron benches, and classical gas-lamp lighting monuments designed beautifully to mimic rolling hills. Serving as the final resting place for US Presidents James Monroe and John Tyler, alongside thousands of soldiers, it offers pedestrian travelers a profoundly educational, quiet journey wrapped in mature trees.
Practical Info
Every day8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Suggested Duration1.5-2.5 hours
Best TimeThis historic garden cemetery overlooking the James River bluffs is best visited between 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM on an October morning. Heavy river mists hover over the continuous valley, and early sunbeams pierce the massive old oaks and historic Gothic granite monuments in breathtaking contrast.
Getting ThereNestled on the southwestern edge of downtown Richmond at 412 S Cherry St. Drivers can navigate via Cary St straight to Cherry St and enter the historic stone gates; vehicle access is fully permitted along the internal winding black-topped ribbons with free roadside berthing. GRTC Route 14 offers transit links.
Travel Tips
- This is an active, functioning cemetery. Shouting, loud music, jogging, picnicking, political activity, or revealing clothing are banned. Leaning on, defacing, or doing grave rubbings on any headstones or monuments is strictly illegal.
- The cemetery features hilly, narrow single-lane winding paths with dead ends. Park closely to the right curb to allow passing space and maintain a 15 mph limit. The main gates lock sharp at 5:00 PM; vehicles inside after hours will be stranded.
- Spanning 130+ acres with minimal shade, walking between top landmarks like James Monroe's tomb and the Confederate Pyramid is exhausting in summer. Opt to drive or book an authorized guided Segway/golf cart tour; personal bicycles are banned.
Reviews
Positive
- Perched quietly on hills overlooking the James River, the massive Gothic stone pyramid and sculptures deliver strong visual impact with classical, solemn river vistas.
- The cemetery features well-maintained paved driving lanes, free multilingual maps at the entrance, and very clear guides in front of major presidential tombs like Monroe and Tyler.
- On-site management is strict, maintaining the proper sacred and quiet order of a historic cemetery without commercial noise, full of pristine serenity.
- As a top-tier historic cemetery housing multiple US presidents and famous figures, it is completely free to enter and park, making it highly cost-effective.
Heads up
- Because the cemetery spans 200 acres across steep rolling hills, exploring purely on foot is exhausting, and it lacks shaded pavilions under the hot summer sun.
- Aside from one public restroom inside the main entrance office, the deep cemetery grounds lack any toilets, trash cans, or vending machines.
- The internal hill roads are highly complex with many one-way lanes; driving without navigation makes it easy to get lost, and narrow curves pose risks for large vehicles.
- For foreign tourists unfamiliar with US Civil War history and political backgrounds, the text-heavy plaques lack visual interaction, making tombstone viewing slightly dry.