Rose Hill Cemetery ~ Macon, Georgia

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I've been to Rose Hill Cemetery in Macon, Georgia, twice now...

the first time in January, 2014 with daughters Mandy and Katie;

the second time, a few weeks ago in April on my way back from Savannah.

Both times it was late in the day (the cemetery stays open until sunset),

and I didn't feel I had time to thoroughly explore...

I will go back.

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First, let me say that Rose Hill is a very different-feeling cemetery...

 not unsettling ~ (not really)... but there's just something about it.

I think it has to do with the location and the way the huge expanse is extremely

terraced; it is located on a windy bluff overlooking the Ocmulgee River,

and the roads winding through it are narrow; obviously laid out in horse-and-buggy days,

the grounds having been consecrated in 1840.

I spent a lot of time nervously maneuvering the roads, worried that I would

ruin a tire on the rather confining concrete curbs and hoping, hoping I didn't meet someone

coming from the opposite direction, because someone would have to back up,

and it wasn't going to be me.

(I would have ended up in the river.)

That said, I think the thing to do in Rose Hill is to arrive early

(although I loved the late afternoon sun for photos)

and plan to walk and explore; eliminating the worry

 about vehicle tires and driving off the bluff.

There are so many truly beautiful, unique monuments

and I'm sure I saw only a fraction of them in my short visits.


The website for Historic Rose Hill is /http://historicrosehillcemetery.org/;

this must be a work-in-progress as there isn't actually much information here yet,

but there are directions and a map.

Wikipedia cites Rose Hill as "a hangout and artistic inspiration for the Allman Brothers Band during their early years. The Allman Brothers' slide guitarist Duane Allman and bassist Berry Oakley are interred here, side by side".

There is also a list of all the "notable" folks interred here;

(Click here for the Wikipedia info)

ExploreSouthernHistory.com gives a bit more information...

"Opened in 1840 through the efforts of Simri Rose, for whom it is named, Rose Hill 

Cemetery is a landmark of the historic city of Macon, Georgia.

Mr. Rose, an early newspaper publisher and community promoter, envisioned Rose Hill 

as a place that would serve as both a burial ground and park for the people of Macon. 
The plan was a stunning example of landscape architecture,
 developed on a hill overlooking downtown Macon in one direction
 and the beautiful Ocmulgee River in another.

The original design of the cemetery did not allow above ground vaults and all burials 

were required to be made below ground. This was an extremely unique requirement in 

Southern cemeteries of the time. Plot holders were also not allowed to clear away any 

natural forest growth without prior approval.

Its design and implementation was so unique that Rose Hill experienced what could 

only be described as a 19th century "burial boom." Sections were added as both local 

residents and people from throughout the South, many of whom had no connection to 

Macon, acquired lots there. Plot sizes were allowed to be reduced and eventually the 

cemetery grew into what it is today."


There are a lot of pictures.... Enjoy!

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A beautifully detailed dove, despite her broken beak...
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The city of Macon can be seen from this area of Rose Hill...
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A lovely, ornate marble monument with lots of symbolism...
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You can see the narrowness of the roads here...(most are curbed).

A large wheel-based vehicle couldn't travel most of the roads that wind

through the cemetery
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Overlooking the railroad tracks and the Ocmulgee River.
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These white-marble stones reminded me of wedding cakes,

with the sun hitting them so prettily...

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I see faces in everywhere, however, and

there are definitely some here!

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Something was sheltered here once...
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There is still a lot of ornate ironwork here (in other cemeteries ~

Oakland in Atlanta, for example, it was donated to the metal-drives in World War II)

Lovely, albeit rusty...(I'm coming to appreciate the beauty of rust!)
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Many of the retaining walls are beginning to crumble a bit,

making them rather treacherous...

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Another steep drop-off...
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Here you can see some random monuments in little "pockets"

in the terracing...definitely a unique landscape!
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I didn't get to investigate the Hebrew Burial Grounds at all...next time!
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