Buddhist Memorial Garden, Falls Church VA

Buhhist Memorial Garden is located in National Memorial Park on Lee Highway in Falls Church, VA 

Oak Hill Cemetery Revisited, Georgetown

In May, I visited "Oak Hill Cemetery" in Georgetown for the first time.   Since then we have had two major storms (Derecho in June and Sandy last week)  and it looks like Oak Hill sustained a lot of tree damage as you can see above.   

Top 10 Cemeteries to Visit in the World

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/top-10/cemeteries/#page=1

I have been to and photographed 3 of the 10 so far!  

51 Cemeteries Project: Lone Fir, Portland Oregon # 37

Lone Fir Cemetery, is located in Portland Oregon.   It's first grave dates back to 1846 (Oregon was named at state in 1859)  and it's the oldest cemetery in the Portland area.  The cemetery was named the top 10 cemeteries to visit in the world by National Geographic Traveler magazine in October 2011.  The cemetery made it on the list for its"Roaming natural landscape—one of the few cemeteries that allows the planting of a tree or garden to commemorate the dearly departed"  (National Geographic Traveler Magazine.) As you can see from the photos, there are a lot of new grave stones but as you can also see there are a number of ones in need of preservation and repair especially the bottom photo.   For more info the cemetery check out there web site:  

http://www.friendsoflonefircemetery.org/

NPR Summer Series on Unusual Cemeteries

A few weeks ago, NPR started a new series called "Dead Stop: A Summer Road Trip Series".  So far they've made three stops.   The series will be visiting strange, funny, historic and notable grave sites and cemeteries across USA.   And you can nominate a cemetery too!   Here's the link. 

http://www.npr.org/2012/05/27/153611874/dead-stop-a-summer-road-trip-series

Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington DC

If you live or have visited the Washington DC area, an have driven on Rock Creek Parkway, you mave have noticed just before Georgetown up on a hill there is a cemetery. I have passed this cemeteries for close to 20 years, and I never knew the name to recently. Today I visited a photographed Oak Hill Cemetery in Georgetown. I can't believe it took me this long to visit this very old and ornate cemetery. Fore me info on the cemetery (including hours you can visit) check out their web site @ www.oakhillcemeterydc.org/.

Lafayette Cemetery, No. 2, New Orleans

Last June, I posted photographs from the famous Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 in the Garden District in New Orleans. Earlier this week I was back in New Orleans for Jazz Fest, and went back to the Garden District to photograph the No. 2. The neighborhoods were quite different... one very historic with old homes the other very urban. The cemeteries however were very similiar. One of the biggest thing that struck me was some of the poor conditions of the older graves.

St. Josephs Cemetery No. 1, New Orleans

Just got back from another visit to New Orleans.  This time I was there for Jazz Fest, however I made sure to visit a couple more cemeteries.   Last June I photographed five New Orleans cemeteries and an Katrina memorial.  

St. Joseph Cemetery Number 1 was established in 1854 by  St. Joseph German Orphan Asylum Association.   It's located just east of St. Charles Avenue in Garden District.  According to nolacemeteries.com: "It was built to bury German immigrants and to provide income for the School Sisters of Notre Dame, who ran the orphanage in the city of Lafayette. It was later taken over by the Archdiocese of New Orleans. St. Joseph No. 2 opened in 1873 across the street."

51 Cemeteries Project: Natchez City Cemetery, MS # 38

It has been awarded the "Most Interesting Cemetery in the South" and after visiting a number of cemeteries in New Orleans, Savannah and Charleston,  that's a huge honor!   Natchez Cemetery sits high above the city with view of downtown and the Mississippi River.   Greg Iles has written about it in his books and one of the statues (i believe the first photo below) was his cover shot for "Turning Angel" book.  

For more info check out their web site:  http://www.natchezcitycemetery.com/custom/webpage.cfm?content=content&id=2

Calvert Family Cemetery, Riverdale MD

Probably the smallest cemetery I have visited.   It's a family cemetery for the Calvert family, who were decedents of Lord Baltimore, located in Riverdale, Maryland. Charles Calvert was a major figure in the establishment of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Maryland Agricultural College which is now called University of Maryland.  For more info check out this web site: http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=123