Hello everyone!
Two weeks have passed since the conclusion of our Virginia Trip, and it’s certainly got me reflecting on all that we’ve seen and done in the past. Notably, this trip marked the end of my quest to visit all 39 final resting places of our U.S. Presidents!
To many, I imagine that even the very notion of tracking down gravesites to visit might seem somewhat morbid (or very disconcerting), but there is a certain something about these unique landmarks that is quite telling about the lives of their subjects, or their personalities. Whether it’s in the grandiose and towering structures of the Victorian Era, or the modest, humble representations of modern times, each presidential gravesite is different from the rest in their own way, and serve as places to both pay respects to the men and their accomplishments, and learn from them in a somewhat personal manner. I started this quest (then unknowingly) in 2008 with Lyndon B. Johnson’s grave, and ended only a few weeks ago with Andrew Johnson’s (Johnson to Johnson!). Over the course of my travels, I have visited the 39 gravesites through 19 different states (counting the District of Columbia). Per state, there are:
7 in Virginia,
6 in New York,
5 in Ohio,
3 in Tennessee,
2 each in Massachusetts, Texas, and California,
1 each in Kentucky, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New Jersey, Indiana, Washington D.C., Vermont, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and Michigan.
So why don’t we reflect on the various gravesites we have visited in our travels? I’ll go in chronological order of the Presidents, from George Washington to George H.W. Bush (From George to George!).
The 39 Presidential Gravesites
Located on the grounds of his beloved Mount Vernon plantation, our first President, George Washington, was also the first to die, being laid to rest first in a temporary tomb nearby, then relocated here into this sizable tomb befitting the “Father of our Country.”
I originally visited this hallowed site back in 2015, then again in 2019. The amount of respectful dignity conducted here is admirable, and proper. Notably during the Civil War, Mount Vernon was neutral ground for both Union and Confederate Soldiers, and all were allowed to pay homage to Washington and his monumental legacy.
Both John Adams, his son John Quincy, and their wives Abigail and Louisa are buried underneath this memorial chapel in the center of Quincy, not far from Boston. Surprisingly humble for a President’s tomb (and that of a Founding Father’s), the tomb of John Adams is adorned with a U.S. Flag bearing 15 stars for the 15 states at the beginning of his Presidency.
The grave of Thomas Jefferson is especially notable for the epitaph written by Jefferson himself, which reads:
“Here was buried Thomas Jefferson, Author of the Declaration of American Independence, of the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, and Father of the University of Virginia.”
Nowhere does it mention his service as our third President, or as our first Secretary of State. I suppose he wanted to be remembered for his “greater” accomplishments.
The Father of the Constitution, James Madison is buried beside his beloved wife Dolley at his estate of Montpelier. He was the last of the signers of the U.S. Constitution to die, passing away in 1836.
The tomb of our fifth President, James Monroe, is quite impressive with its gothic revival “cage”, made from cast-iron. Monroe was reburied here in the 1850’s from his original resting place in New York, shortly before the start of the Civil War.
Next to the tombs of John and Abigail Adams in Quincy, lies the crypt of their son, John Quincy Adams, and his wife Louisa. Having the four together in the crypt suggests a strong sense of family identity in the family. Indeed, the Adams Family has been one of the most influential political families in American History.
Andrew Jackson is buried with his much beloved wife Rachel under this cupola in The Hermitage’s garden. Jackson chose this spot here so he could have a clear view from his library window. He dearly loved her, and wrote a long and glowing epitaph for her on her marker stone (right), while on his stone (left), he simply wrote: “General Andrew Jackson”.
Easily the tallest marker of this small cemetery, the grave of Martin Van Buren stands proudly, in honor of “Old Kinderhook” (or O.K., the origin of the term), one of the founders of the Democratic Party.
Presidential buffs like me are well acquainted with the “Ohio Trend”, in which most Presidents that came from the “Buckeye State” died in office (4/6 in total). Those four in Ohio have tombs both grand and massive, even if some of their legacies were less than impactful. William Henry Harrison for instance, was only President for a month before he died of pneumonia, yet here stands this tall obelisk.
Unfortunately, when we came to visit, the interior tomb was closed for the day… maybe one day i’ll be able to visit it properly.
Buried mere yards away from James Monroe (right), is the tomb of John Tyler (left), our 10th President. Notable for being the only President to die a non-U.S. citizen (due to his loyalty to the Confederacy), Confederate President Jefferson Davis afforded him a state funeral and burial here, among other distinguished Virginians and Confederates. Tyler’s coffin was draped in the Confederate Flag, and his death was never officially recognized in Washington D.C… 50 years after his death, this monolith was erected to honor Tyler.
Polk’s remains have been somewhat mobile in the time since his death. First buried in Nashville’s Public Cemetery (during the 1849 Cholera Epidemic), he was then buried at Polk Place, the estate of his and his wife Sarah’s. When Polk Place was torn down, their remains were moved here to the grounds of the State Capitol, where they have remained since.
In recent years, some proposals had been made to transfer his remains to nearby Columbia, where his House Museum is, but none have come to fruition.
General and 12th President Zachary Taylor was buried here, on what was originally the Taylor Family Estate. Now, the National Cemetery that bears his name hosts veterans from almost all of the wars the U.S. has participated in.
While not a great president (or a memorable one at that), Fillmore was certainly a major figure in Buffalo History, even helping to found the University of Buffalo.
Poor Franklin Pierce lived a tragic life… none of his children survived to adulthood (with one, Benny, dying in a train crash on the way to the inauguration), his religious wife blaming his political career for this, and then his severe alcoholism… one would feel sorry for him, and maybe even sympathy for him, despite his poor administration. At least they are buried here together, once and for all.
Poor James Buchanan is ranked often as one of our worst Presidents, for his failure to ease pre-Civil War tensions. Being the only lifelong bachelor President, he is buried alone here in Woodward Hill, surrounded by many weathered and tipped gravestones. History is often unkind posthumously…
Lincoln’s tomb is indeed grand, but perhaps befitting for the man who saved the Union. Many history buffs make pilgrimages here to pay their respects to the “Railsplitter” and the “Great Emancipator”.
Following a very lengthy funeral route via train throughout many major cities on the way to Springfield, Lincoln was buried first in a temporary vault in the cemetery, then nearby the current monument. To prevent further attempted grave robberies (at least two occurred), he was buried underneath 10 feet of concrete, and this simple but unique marker. Also buried here is his wife Mary, and three of their four sons who never lived to adulthood (Robert Todd Lincoln, the eldest, is buried in Arlington National Cemetery).
Andrew Johnson’s resting place atop Monument Hill was the last on my list of Presidential Gravesites to visit! It was oddly gratifying.
Andrew Johnson was buried draped in an American Flag, with a copy of the U.S. Constitution as his pillow. A strict constitutional constructionist, Johnson was loyal above all else to his interpretation of the founding document, rather than bipartisanship with his opponents in Congress. (Ignore the workers who are doing restoration work on the graves).
The largest mausoleum in North America, the General Grant National Memorial in Uptown New York honors the achievements of the Union’s most famous general, and our 18th President, Ulysses S. Grant. The interior took heavy inspiration from the layout of Napoleon’s Tomb in France, and the grandiosity in this tomb is more attributed to the Victorian expectations of memorialization in death than from the humble Grant’s wishes.
While on a school trip with my high school theatre group, my dad and I managed to snag enough time to visit.
Spiegel Grove is the lovely estate of 19th President Rutherford B. Hayes, and amid the fresh air of the trees, you’ll find his tomb as well. To be fair, I would want to be buried in a place like this too. Hayes, an exception to the “Ohio Trend” of Presidential Gravesites, has a much more modest final resting place.
It simply amazes me that James A. Garfield, who was only in office for a few months before succumbing to an assassin’s bullet, managed to get this multi-story monument in his name. I suppose Presidents who die in office get all the posthumous glory.
In the crypt of the monument, you’ll find the actual coffins of the Garfields. As far as I know, these are the only caskets of a President and a First Lady that you can actually view (though I did see the coffin of President Bush Sr. during his funeral procession in College Station).
Yet another obscure President, Chester A. Arthur’s grave is rather somber, particularly with the statue of an angel watching over him. Curiously, his grave dates his birth being in 1830, when in actuality it was in 1829. The reasons for this are unknown, for little remains of Arthur’s legacy.
Grover Cleveland is the only President to serve two nonconsecutive terms, thus he is our 22nd and 24th President. Thankfully, he has only one gravesite, which is here in Princeton Cemetery, not far from the grave of the infamous Aaron Burr. It’s rather simple, and surrounded by his family.
If you look closely above his name, you can spot the hourglass which Cleveland insisted on, as he considered punctuality to be very critical to a successful life.
Buried with his family is Benjamin Harrison, grandson of William Henry Harrison, in the second-from-left plant-covered plot in front of the family marker. Other notable burials in Crown Hill Cemetery (the 6th largest cemetery in the U.S.) include three vice-presidents, and gangster John Dillinger.
While many people remember Canton as the “Birthplace of Football”, Presidential enthusiasts like myself remember it as the hometown of President William McKinley.
Another “Ohio Trender”, McKinley led the country during the Spanish American War, only to be gunned down by an anarchist in Buffalo. In addition to visiting a site of such historical significance, it also serves as a great place for the local community to exercise on the lengthy stairs.
Located on Long Island, not far from his home at Sagamore Hill, Theodore Roosevelt and his wife Edith are entombed. It’s surprisingly humble, especially for a man of his “larger than life” achievements and reputation.
William Howard Taft is known more for trivia facts about him (need I mention the bathtub incident?) than his actual accomplishments, but that’s a real shame, especially with his later service as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Arlington National Cemetery is one of only three places where more than one president is buried (the others being Quincy’s United First Parish Church and Richmond’s Hollywood Cemetery).
The only President buried in our nation’s capital, Woodrow Wilson is entombed here with his second wife Edith. There’s something about being surrounded by colorful stained glass windows that makes this religious tomb quite contemplative. I certainly recommend visiting the Cathedral if you get the chance, its’ very impressive.
The last of the “Ohio Trend” Presidents, Warren G. Harding’s only request was that he be buried outside. That being said, after his unexpected death while in office in 1923, they decided to go to the extreme and built this large romanesque memorial for him and his wife. Of course, it was only shortly after its’ completion that word of Harding’s extramarital affairs and corrupt dealings became known. Oops.
Up in the gorgeous hills of Vermont, in the tiny hamlet of Plymouth Notch, you’ll find the gravesite of Calvin Coolidge, otherwise known as “Silent Cal”. Born on July 4th, Coolidge’s grave is very unassuming, with only the top seal indicating that he was President.
Also, I apologize looking somewhat uncomfortable in that pic. It was raining, and we wanted to pay our respects quickly.
Adhering to his Quaker roots, Herbert Hoover is buried under simple Vermont Marble, and the site casts a widespread view around the hills where Hoover used to play as a boy. From this spot, one can spot his birthplace cottage across the creek, indicating a life of full circle back to the land and roots from which he came.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, Champion of the New Deal and President of the United States during the Great Depression and World War II, is buried here in the rose garden of his home Springwood. Buried with him is his wife and First Lady Eleanor, an extraordinary and highly-lauded stateswoman in her own right.
It’s interesting that some presidents with meager accomplishments get the greater tombs, while those with more significant achievements have more humble final resting places… makes you think.
Harry S. Truman, the honest and folksy President from the town of Independence, is buried in the central courtyard of his Presidential Library. It’s quite peaceful there, and the list of his accomplishments is quite impressive.
Contemplative stained glass windows adorn the burial place of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, his wife Mamie, and their newborn son Doud, who didn’t survive childhood. Eisenhower is a greatly admired man, and here, on the grounds of his childhood home, one is allowed to reflect on the American Heartlands, and of the ideal that anyone can grow up to be anybody.
Forever engraved in the memory of the nation for his ideals and charisma, John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s flame of inspiration burns brightly in the form of his eternal flame. Though horrifically slain in Dallas (a memory still vivid in the minds of those who can remember it), here he rests in the quiet solitude of the hill, overlooking Washington D.C.
Countless people every year pay homage to him, his equally famous wife Jacqueline, and two of their children at their plot. The unbroken silence commanded on that hill leaves one awestruck… the amount of respect that people have for him is enough to warrant that.
Being the first Presidential Gravesite I’ve ever visited (back in 2008), I always have fond memories of the LBJ Ranch out in the Hill Country, the region of Texas where I grew up. Made of red granite found exclusively in Texas, the graves of Lyndon B. Johnson and his wife Lady Bird (my favorite First Lady in case you didn’t know) are the tallest in the private family cemetery.
Because of his Hill Country background, I can sympathize and relate more to LBJ than most other Presidents, and it’s great to have someone who grew up in poverty here rise to become President of the United States. That is a very encouraging thought.
One of our more controversial presidents in recent times, Richard Nixon and his wife Pat rest under simple black gravestones. Whatever your stance on Nixon might be, the Library and gardens are very beautiful, and Nixon’s final resting place is only a few yards away from his birthplace cottage. Another life of full-circle. His gravestone reads:
“The greatest honor History can bestow is the title of Peacemaker”.
One of the most humble and honorable men to have ever graced the Oval Office, Gerald R. Ford and his wife Betty are buried here near their library in downtown Grand Rapids. The site is so unassuming, that one might not realize it is here that they are buried, alongside the Grand River.
High up in the mountains near Simi Valley, you’ll find the Reagan Library, the largest of the 13 libraries in terms of land size. You’ll also find the final resting place of President Reagan and his wife Nancy, overlooking the mountainous landscape below… it’s quite a beautiful place… And as read on his memorial marker:
“I know in my heart that man is good,
That what is right will always eventually triumph,
And there is purpose and worth to each and every life.”
Also in Texas, you’ll find the final resting place of George H.W. Bush, father to fellow President George W. Bush. Bush Sr. was the most recent President to die (in 2018), and was laid to rest here alongside his wife Barbara and his young daughter Robin (who died of Leukemia).
I have visited this site many times over the years, the first in 2009 (before George or Barbara passed away), and again several times afterwards. The pictures above was from my most recent visit in 2019. The grass over Bush’s grave was still freshly laid it seems.
And those are the current 39 Presidential Gravesites!
Six Presidents are still alive today, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden.
To the best of our knowledge, Carter plans to be buried near his house in Plains, GA, Clinton “supposedly” has a burial place set aside at his Presidential Library in Little Rock, AR (though not confirmed), and Bush plans to be buried at his library in Dallas, TX. It is currently unknown where Obama, Trump, and Biden plan to be buried.
After 14 years, I have finally completed this quest, and in all honesty, I have learned much about not only our Commanders in Chief as individuals, but also of the times that they lived in. It has also taught me that gravesites in general are quite telling of the life that one has led, and what is important to remember. The line in between birth and death on a gravestone is symbolic of an entire life, after all.
But above all, it has made me realize that it is important to cherish life as much as we can. Not just to enjoy it, but also to truly experience it. To relish it. And it’s important to ask ourselves what we want to leave behind in this world when we are gone, and how we want to be remembered.
Thank you for joining me for this moment of reflection. It’s been quite the journey, and I only hope that we have many more in the future, together.
Mark's Historical Roadtrips! 