Cemeteries with interesting graves and tombstones

Established in 1668, Eastern Cemetery is the oldest historic site in Portland, Maine. Of the more than 4,000 marked graves, the oldest headstone belongs to Mary Green, who died at age 54 in 1717. Eastern Cemetery’s beautiful, sloping 6.5-acre grounds are full of excellently preserved, intricately carved tombstones topped with grinning skulls, crossbones, and winged cherubs. Since 2006, the cemetery has been maintained by Spirits Alive, a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of the burial ground.

This 5-acre cemetery, located about 25 miles north of New York City, is the final resting place of more than 70,000 pets. Although the wrought-iron entrance gate reads “Hartsdale Canine Cemetery,” any and all animals are accepted at Hartsdale, the first pet cemetery in the U.S. The majority of burials are still dogs and cats, but Hartsdale has also interred rabbits, ferrets, snakes, turtles, guinea pigs, horses, lizards, rabbits, monkeys, and even humans. Nearly 700 people—or more specifically, their cremated remains—are buried alongside their pets.

Historic Congressional Cemetery may have been the first national burying ground in the U.S.—predating Arlington by at least 50 years—but today it is full of life. Located just a few miles east of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the cemetery is the final resting place of countless notable and historical figures, including congressmen and gay veterans. But depending on when you visit, you may also encounter dogs darting in between the headstones and find goats grazing in the grass or doing yoga.

The Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial graveyard is located, appropriately, on Coon Dog Cemetery Road in the northwest corner of Alabama. It was established in 1937 and claims to be the only cemetery of its kind in the world. You can still pay your respects to the cemetery’s first resident, Troop, Key Underwood's faithful hunting companion for more than 15 years. Today more than 300 dogs are buried in the cemetery and all potential candidates must meet a set of strict qualifications.

High on a hill, to the north of Daylight Gulch is one of Virginia City's most popular tourist attractions. Boot Hill Cemetery is the last resting place of five infamous road agents hanged by vigilantes on January 14, 1864. The cemetery is also the final resting place of three “rodent agents.” According to their hand painted grave markers, “Sneaky Mouse” was captured and killed for loitering and stealing cheese. “Sqeeky Mouse” was captured and killed for leaving messes and crawling up ladies’ dresses. And “Cheeky Mouse” was captured and killed for moving into cabins, vagrancy, and tearing up books.