The Hidden Gem Cemetery Tour of Laurel Grove
Description
Often called The Hidden Gem & is the local's favorite cemetery!.This former plantation turned 67-acre cemetery, is Savannah's most pristine, gothic and untouched that sold out in The Victorian Age. It contains more stylized mausoleum chapels than any city cemetery, has the area's true Civil War sections, including prominent Gettysburg heroes, and is a refuge to the city's grandest and most decorative ironwork fences. It was the most inclusive of all of the cemeteries ranging in the city's wealthiest right down to a Stranger's Lot, Jewish section, slave section, Babyland, best representing the small tight-knit city. The cast of characters includes Girl Scout's founder, Juliette Low. Jingle Bell's author, James Pierpont. Savannah's original greeter, The Waving Girl. An ironclad shipbuilder, Henry Willink. Author Kahlil Gibran's benefactress, Mary Haskell. Great Women's History here. Most days our tour is the only group of living found in the cemetery giving it an incredibly private feel!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Guides conduct the narrated tour through the 1853 cemetery, taking guests around the multiple mausoleum crypts, gravesites, ironwork, statues, Civil War sections, Freemasons, visits include the burial sites of Girl Scout's Founder Juliette Low, The Waving Girl, James Pierpont, Mary Marshall, Henry Willink, Mary Haskell-Minis and others. Topics include Victorian funerary rites, laws, burial traditions, symbolism, sculpture, Civil War, Revolutionary War, Women's History, Literary History, etc.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Are Pets Allowed? Yes
Reviews(26)
This tour was wonderful. Paschal is very knowledgeable and easy going. We learned a lot about Savannah history and the cemetery “residents”. Highly recommend!
The Hidden Gem Cemetery Tour (Laurel Grove) was indeed a hidden gem! Paschel was very knowledgeable about the cemetery, cemetery symbolism, and the stories about the inhabitants. He was also very entertaining.
This is an amazingly beautiful and informative tour. A tad long if you have younger children along or if you have somewhere else to get to, but for those wanting to fill your afternoon, this is a must do. Paschal is incredibly knowledgeable and made the trip very memorable for us.
This is a tour that should not be missed. Our guide, Shannon, was absolutely incredible. He told us about the cemetery itself. We learned a ton about history and he had interesting stories about many of the people there. He was phenomenal in teaching us about the symbolism found here and in many cemeteries. We learned so much and heard some amazing personal anecdotes. Shannon was one of the best tour guides we have ever had!
As a Girl Scout Alumni Troop from Savannah, we got to learn about the history of the cemetery that the GS Founder, Juliette Low, is buried. Sorry to see it “abandoned” with no active support group to maintain it other than the city.
Paschal was a wonderful guide. He was very knowledgeable and the tour was placed out nicely. I would recommend this tour.
Jamie, truly glad that one, you took a chance on the cemetery that is most coveted by Savannah versus tourists, as in many ways, shocking more don't come or ever know about this place and hence the very name of our tour, but moreover we're so happy to hear that one of the great voices of the place, your guide Paschal Miller, was so exemplary in his delivery and services of it! We're building the popularity of this hidden gem one tour at a time so thank you for being part of the project building!
Tour guild was excellent!!! A lot of knowledge and interested stories. We are recommended for wonderful tour guide.
Tanya, glad to hear yet again that our man on deck, Paschal Miller, presented Savannah's favorite cemetery to you in such high-caliber fashion! Trust me when we say we expect no less of the man whose family goes back to the 1760's in Savannah's burial traditions and a guy who like most of us is a true taphophile and when not working in a cemetery, just walking about and exploring! Appreciate your comments to us and others!
Learned lots of Savannah history. Less pretentious than Bonaventure. Next door is the African American cemetary at Laurel Grove South - beautiful.
Wonderful to hear of your experience with us and appreciate your sharing with others. And yes, Laurel Grove South worth everyone's time to and so tragic that a highway called Connector would divide them up rather callously nearly a century ago but I suppose in that regard, we have two more great cemeteries to explore!
Excellent tour and a must when visiting Savannah. Pascel was our guide. He was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about his subject.
Kimberly, we're honored and touched to know your guide, Paschal Miller delivered the experience so well and that his passion, is also infectious! Appreciate your being part of building this cemetery's reputation beyond being simply the local's favorite cemetery! As you realize, it deserves to be known to all who visit Savannah!
More people should take advantage of this tour. Educational, informative and a beautiful cemetery. We we able to tour some of Savannah's most famous graves like Juliet Gordon Low, Andrew Low and George Owens
You said a mouthful, Laurie! As much as I hate to let secrets out, Laurel Grove Cemeteries may be the sleeping giants of them all and have escaped the attention of 99.9% of tourists! Congrats on being one of the few, the proud and sounds like a new fan of our expert over there, local, Paschal Miller! He's the best! Thank you and will pass along your compliments to him as its his favorite cemetery!
