Fisher Mason

4/26/16
Parker English 101
Graveyard Shift
For most people, a cemetery doesnt seem like a good place to stop on
a vacation. But as the adage goes, if you build it, they will come. There are
several examples of cemeteries that have taken on a new life as tourist
destinations. These trips are common in New Orleans, and its also common
to see people take trips to historic military cemeteries. There are even a few
famous faces whose fans devotion persists past death.
In a town as lively as New Orleans, death isnt the first thing on most
peoples minds. But step outside the boundary of the citys more well-known
tourist spots, and youll find a different kind of attraction. The swampy
terrain in Louisiana means that digging graves is impractical and often
extremely difficult. Because of this, many of New Orleans former residents
have made their final resting places in above-ground tombs. The most
frequented cemeteries in the city are Lafayette Cemetery and St. Louis
Cemetery. St. Louis cemetery has had to institute a rule requiring tourists to
be accompanied by a registered tour guide due to the traffic the
establishment was getting. In addition to tourism, Lafayette Cemetery is
often used as a location for filming. Both locations have striking stone tombs,
with inscribed tiles on the wall taking the place of headstones. The

architecture and solemn, contemplative atmosphere are part of what draws

in so many visitors. Cemetery managers and groundskeepers in New Orleans
encourage this tourism, seeing it as a way to share appreciation of the areas
history.
Many of the most commonly visited cemeteries are military cemeteries
with historical significance. The most famous of these is Arlington National
Cemetery in Virginia, across the Potomac from Washington, D.C. Arlington
was formerly the estate of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Buried at
Arlington are soldiers who fought in every major conflict since the Civil War.
Another historic site is the Gettysburg National Cemetery. The cemetery was
established on the fields where the Battle of Gettysburg, one of the bloodiest
battles of the Civil War, was fought. Buried there are men who fought in the
Civil War, as well as soldiers of the first World War. Part of the reason people
come to see the cemetery at Gettysburg is the remnants of the battle that
have been left intact. They serve as a reminder of a dark period of the
countrys history; a period that saw many of the cemeterys residents lay
down their lives. Most large military cemeteries welcome visitors, and may
have informational displays or museums to tell about the conflicts the
soldiers died in.
Another often-visited resting place is the grave of former Joy Division
singer Ian Curtis. Curtis took his own life in 1980, but his music has
continued to inspire and move people. Fans flock to his grave to pay their
respects and see the English countryside he called home. Notorious punk

rocker GG Allin also gets graveside visitors, but they pay homage in a more
unconventional way. Allin died in 1993 as a result of an overdose at a
raucous post-concert party. As per his wishes, GGs body was not cleaned or
embalmed, and he was buried wearing his trademark leather jacket and
jockstrap. Fans and former friends gather at his grave in the otherwise quiet
town of Littleton, New Hampshire. Littleton police regularly patrol the local
cemetery to watch for groups of visiting fans, who have been known to
vandalize the gravesite and leave cigarette butts and empty bottles of
alcohol. Employees of the cemetery strongly discourage these grave-side
parties, and have expressed disbelief at the fact that GG was allowed to be
buried in a Catholic cemetery.
Despite seeming like a niche attraction, cemeteries are attracting
increasingly more tourists.

Works Cited
"Kevin Michael Allin; Rock Performer, 37." New York Times, Late Edition (East
Coast) ed.Jul 01

1993. ProQuest. Web. 11 May 2016 .

Jones, Malcolm. "Tombstone Tourism." Newsweek 160.17 (2012):

11. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 11 May 2016.
Wragg, Tanya. "The Spirit Of New Orleans Will Haunt You." Hispanic 18.5
(2005): 64. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 11 May 2016.
Lukas, Paul. "Final Destinations." Money 29.5 (2000): 177. MasterFILE
Premier. Web. 11 May 2016.