“America’s Most Haunted City,” Savannah, Georgia, is home to more than its share of ghostly inhabitants. Among the noted hotspots is Bonaventure Cemetery, home of Gracie, the weeping monument, and the “Bird Girl” from Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The “Bird Girl” statue was recently moved to the museum downtown, because curiosity seekers and vandals would not leave it alone.
This cemetery, with its moss-covered trees and serene atmosphere, is as frightening as it is beautiful. According to a well-known authority on paranormal phenomena, this site was once a lavish plantation, beautifully landscaped. During a dinner party held at the estate, a fire broke out and the immense mansion burned to the ground. Visitors have since told tales of spirit laughter and the clatter of dinnerware, when no one was actually present to account for the phenomena.
The creepy statue of a small girl named Gracie Watkins allegedly cries during the night within the cemetery. People who visit the grounds often place presents in Gracie’s hands, such as money and trinkets. When one of these items is taken out of her hands, it is said that she weeps tears of blood.
Several other ghosts are also believed to haunt this old cemetery, including a pack of ghost dogs. These spectral hounds have been known to run after visitors, snarling and barking.
Savannah’s history shines at this historic landmark, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Many noted and locally influential people such as former mayors, clergy, writers, and military officers share this burial ground. In addition, millions visit Bonaventure Cemetery each year just for the sheer beauty of the location.
Written by — Jason McCurry Founder, Haunted Lives Paranormal Society
BONAVENTURE CEMETERY
330 BONAVENTURE ROAD
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA 31404
WEBSITE: www.bonaventurehistorical.org
SEE ALSO:
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of Haunted Places -Ghostly Locales from around the World – Compiled & Edited by Jeff Belanger – Copyright 2005 by Jeff Belanger