Savannah's oldest remaining cemetery with hundreds of weathered tombstones from the 1700s
Established 1753 • Oglethorpe Avenue, Historic District • Gateway to Savannah's colonial heritage
Savannah's Oldest Cemetery
Colonial Park Cemetery is home to hundreds of weathered tombstones which provide a tangible connection to colonial times. Located on Oglethorpe Avenue, burials began here in the 1700s -- making it Savannah's oldest remaining cemetery.
The site was not the original place for burials, though. Land in part of Savannah known as Percival Ward was used during the first generation of the settlement for placing the deceased in their final resting place. However, by the mid-1700s, there was a need for a new burial place.
Cemetery Establishment and Expansion
1753 - Cemetery Laid Out
In 1753, Colonial Park Cemetery was laid out. At the time, the location was outside the city limits although today it is more or less in the center of the Savannah Historic District. For the next 100 years, burials would take place here, mostly under the supervision of Christ Church.
Three Major Expansions
By the early 1760s, the cemetery reached capacity and had to be expanded. Three expansions southward and eastward were made in 1762, 1768 and finally in 1789.
Burial Records and Lost History
Missing Records
Unfortunately for history, the church did not keep a record of who was buried during the first fifty years. It did begin keeping a burial record in the early 1800s but it's estimated as many as 5,000 individuals may have been buried here before any records were kept.
Total Burials
By 1853, as many as 10,000 people had been interred at Colonial Park Cemetery. At capacity and with no room to expand, burials were halted here and Laurel Grove Cemetery opened as a successor.
Weathered Stones
Although there are thousands of graves in Colonial Park Cemetery, less than 600 tombstones remain. Many of the marble gravestones have been affected by weathering through the centuries. The chiseled names, birth & death dates and other information has become harder to read.
Damage and Vandalism
Many gravestones were also damaged by vandals and possibly even during the Civil War.
Legend holds Union soldiers used the cemetery grounds during their occupation of Savannah. Local families have told stories for generations that these troops damaged many tombstones, although there are no newspaper accounts to verify these stories.
Oral History Tradition
While no documented evidence exists, the stories passed down through generations reflect the impact of Civil War occupation on Savannah's historic sites.
Perhaps Colonial Park Cemetery's most famous tie to American history is that one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence is buried here. Button Gwinnett was born two years after Savannah was founded by James Edward Oglethorpe.
Revolutionary Leader
Originally he made his living as a merchant, and that brought him to the colony of South Carolina. Later, he became a plantation owner and was elected to the Continental Congress. His signature is now among the rarest and most valuable of all Declaration signers.
Learn more about Button Gwinnett's life and legacy →
General Nathanael Greene
Another famed man from the Revolutionary era was once buried here -- General Nathanael Greene. He was General George Washington's second in command during the Revolutionary War and the two men were great friends — Greene even named his first son George Washington Greene.
Later Moved
Upon his death in 1786 from sunstroke, he was laid to rest in the old cemetery. However, his remains were later removed and placed in nearby Johnson Square.
History will never reveal the names of most of those people buried in Colonial Park Cemetery but along with the famous and the unknown are some of the original settlers of Savannah.
Eight Moravians who died within the first six years of Savannah's founding are remembered with a commemorative marble marker.
Church Authority and Preservation
19th Century Disputes
In the years after burials ceased, a dispute arose between Christ Church Episcopal and the local government. Back in 1756, the city had granted the church authority to oversee the cemetery and it became the de facto burial place for members of the parish.
Although local Catholics and members of other congregations were occasionally buried here. Towards the latter part of the 19th century, church leaders worried the city might one day sell off parts of the cemetery to private individuals.
Colonial-era gravestones tell stories of Savannah's earliest residents
A Peaceful Historic Haven Today
Natural Beauty
Today large oak trees tower over the weathered tombstones and above-ground brick tombs. Whether it was yellow fever, a duel or natural causes, those at rest in Colonial Park Cemetery are now in one of the most peaceful spots in Savannah.
Towering Oaks
Majestic oak trees create a peaceful canopy over centuries-old grave markers and historic monuments.
Modern Usage
The park lures tourists of all ages who are interested in the stories this land holds. Downtown professionals sometimes sit on a park bench and have a quiet lunch here and neighbors sometimes walk their dogs through the park.
Community Space
A place where history and daily life intersect, offering peaceful reflection for residents and visitors alike.
Location and Access
Colonial Park Cemetery is located on Oglethorpe Avenue in Savannah's Historic District. The cemetery is open to visitors year-round and provides a peaceful place for historical reflection.
Colonial Park Cemetery laid out outside city limits under Christ Church supervision.
1756 - City Grants Authority
City grants Christ Church Episcopal authority to oversee the cemetery operations.
1762, 1768, 1789 - Expansions
Three major expansions southward and eastward to accommodate growing burial needs.
1786 - General Greene Buried
Revolutionary War hero General Nathanael Greene laid to rest after death from sunstroke.
1853 - Burials Cease
Cemetery reaches capacity with ~10,000 burials; Laurel Grove Cemetery opens as successor.