Oakwood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia is estimated to contain the remains of as many as 17,000…read moreConfederate soldiers. During the early months of the war, it was determined that a cemetery needed to be established for the burial of the large numbers of military casualties inflicted by the battles around the Confederate capital. Nearly all of the Confederate dead buried at Oakwood came from the hospitals and camps at the eastern end of Richmond. Men who died at Chimborazo and Howard's Grove hospitals almost always went to Oakwood. The majority of soldiers buried at Oakwood received an individual grave, although during certain periods--they were stacked. Most of the graves with multiple burials contain only two men. There are a very few known instances of 3-5 men in one grave. A South Carolina soldier witnessed the burial process at Oakwood in 1862 and took the time to write about it. "The hearse comes along with its load of corpses and on the brink of each grave it deposited a coffin on which is placarded the name, company and regiment of the soldier whose remains it contained. No vault was dug, the coffin was lowered into this ditch-like grave and without ceremony the dirt was shoved in, and a small board bearing the number of the grave was placed at the head...."

How do you rate a cemetery? In all my years as a Virginian, this was my first visit here, which was…read moreon Memorial Day weekend. Fitting. I didn't realize that most of those buried here are Union soldiers. But it also includes World War,I and II veterans. It is well kept and has several monuments to commemorate their service and valor. You will notice the stark temperature difference walking in and out of the gate. At least 10° cooler inside. But have no fear. There are no spooky vibes.

Ann H, the first reviewer, of this location, is spot on. My husband told me about this cemetery…read morespot and the history behind it and we were able to check this spot out after our short hick around the Cold Harbor trail. It's a really beautiful location to see and just good to know. I wish I could add more to this, but I would honestly just read Ann's review. A must see!

The death of a loved one is a terrible time and, sadly, there are businesses out there ready to…read moretake advantage of you at your worst moments. Not Richmond Cremation. Up-front pricing, no hidden fees, and, while they offer a wide selection of services, they do not try to up-sell you. They give you all the information, let you make your choices, and carry out your wishes at the price they quoted right at the beginning. They are kind, and conscientious. They will work to accommodate your requests for your loved one. And they will follow through, every step of the process, to ensure that you are satisfied. I recommend their services wholeheartedly to anyone.

They were very professional and were able to work within the tight timeline we had. They were about…read morehalf the price of some of the other places. They responded quickly to all of our questions, very easy to work with,highly recommend.

So many Unknowns…read more Richmond National Cemetery is one of those in the traditional vein. The same white markers precisely placed in the flat ground. There are few large trees providing shade, but in the bright sun, it's still a stark sight. At first, I noticed a handful of "2 Unknown US Soldiers" on the headstone, but as I walked through the markers, I began to notice rows and rows of unknowns, some with one, some with two, some with four designated on the headstone. The farther I walked toward the back of the grounds, the more Unknowns I saw. I don't remember ever being in in a national cemetery with that many in one place. It's sad and depressing. All those people -- lost to history. It's good they're still honored here. Richmond National Cemetery is in a noisy area, backing up to a residential neighborhood with the music of a typical day for the living heard in the air.

Surrounded by businesses, residences, and with an entrance along a Main Street, this smallish…read morecemetery only a short straight drive from Richmond National Cemetery has no parking available. I stopped into a nearby convenience store to grab a soda and ask about parking. One of the owners generously offered to let me park in his lot. It was a kind gesture I much appreciated. Although it's in the middle of a bustling area, once inside the brick walls, the noise diminishes. Perhaps because your focus moves from the traffic to the view. It's about two acres and part of a Civil War battlefield. I was expecting mostly older headstones and was surprised to see markers up to and through the Gulf War. There's a tie to the recent and the local. Most of the trees, save one or two, are around the perimeter of the cemetery outside the wall. I didn't count seven pine trees for which this place was named, there may have been, but there were more than seven trees of some kind and that was close enough. Here I saw no headstones lost to large trees, unusual in a cemetery with origins to the Civil War. On the list of what this cemetery doesn't have, besides parking, easy access, buried or damaged headstones, there are also no huge markers or monolithic headstones of some military officer. It's just a simple historic cemetery with ties to the small town around it. Seven Pines probably gets lost in the attention of that larger neighbor and with no available parking, and an adjoining sidewalk a gasp away from the heavy and rushing traffic, that's a disservice, I think. It's a nice place, full of history, and worth more than a diversionary glance as you wait in your car for the traffic light to change.

This is a local attraction that can easily be missed. It is located right off of a highway entrance…read moreramp and on the Historic Slave Trail. The grounds are well maintained and kept. It is opposite of the side that the Lumpkin Slave Jail is located. You can take an underpass to walk freely between the two sites. This was the first designated burial spot for the city's enslaved and free residents of African ancestry, dating back to as late as 1799. This one and a half acres was considered poor quality and had no other use but the cemetery. It was also the site of public hangings. Other names the site has been known as Potter's Field, were Burying-ground for Coloured persons, Grave Yard for Free People of Color" and Grave Yard for For Slaves You will find a memorial obelisk here with a plaque dedicating the cemetery. Their is also a spot with a couple of information placards that look likes a spot that people hold rituals and leave sacrifices/personal effects. The vast majority of the grounds is low cut green space. Additionally, there is a vacant and decrepit building there. I do not know what it was prior, but it looks historical. This is a nice place to visit. I would not consider it a long stop, so I would probably couple it with a visit to the old Lumpkin Slave Jail and other nearby attractions to maximize your time.

Be on the look out because this landmark is easy to miss.This plaque is located on a bridge that…read moregoes over a park. Attached to the plaque is a rope going over the bridge and at the end of the rope is a noose. The area below was closed due to construction at the time of my visit. I apologize for no further information.

This is different…read more Glendale is one of the National Cemeteries laid out in a circle with a flagpole at the hub. For that reason, it doesn't have the same impact of the straight lines of white markers. At least at first glance. If you look closely, however, there's still some symmetry. It forces the viewer to leave behind the orderly analysis of rows and instead evaluate the circle and what it represents. The circle isn't perfect. I suppose it could be if those who laid it out had planned it. It's a disrupter. Because there are a lot of burials from the Civil War era, with the battlefield not far down the road, the unevenness of the circle is likely a testament to how unplanned things were at the time. It's a pretty setting, though. Not many homes, a lot of open space and old, large trees. The cannon, sitting with the flag at the center documents the burial numbers. Seeing that and then the circle of white markers and the map of the battle that started it all, is a must for anyone with an interest in history. It's an unusual setting

Tiny visitors center for the nearby battlefield of Malvern's Hill. The highlight is the terrain map…read morewith lights that show the flow of the battle. I met two very informative guides here, who ironically I would meet the next day at the Civil War visitors center at Tredegar. The visitors center also has a small museum of battlefield artifacts. I didn't examine the cemetery closely, but you can see the gravestones of soldiers who lost their lives at Malvern Hill.

I went here on a Saturday morning. It is free to visit. Took a paid 90-minute historic walking tour…read more(Highlights of Hollywood Cemetery Walking Tour) by The Valentine. Tour started at the entrance and we went to notable spots. We were only 7 in the tour. Our tour guide Doug who has been doing it for 14 seasons was very knowledgeable. He shared interesting facts, architectural/art styles, history of people and places/Richmond. We saw the iron dog, graves of the 2 US presidents (John Monroe's Tomb and John Tyler's Monument), Lewis Ginter Mausoleum, Palmer Chapel Mausoleum (and the overlooks on its sides), among others. It was a nice tour. I learned a lot. If you plan to go there on your own, there's a map from the website that you can download and use where there are markers for the notable spots. Google Maps does not have these spots in it. The restroom can be found on the left shortly after entering the cemetery. Lewis Ginter Mausoleum shows Victorian era architecture. When you peek through the door, you would see the nice Tiffany glass artwork behind. With its history, nice views overlooking the James River, the peaceful and quiet environment, this is a place worth checking out.

This cemetery is beautiful and big. Lots of unique headstones. It's sprawling with lots of hills so…read morewear your walking shoes.