For some people the fascination with their idol continuesย even after their hero is dead and buried. For others the opportunity to see aย spot associated with someone well known is appealing. Whatever the motivation,ย many of the graves of the famous and sometimes infamous have become touristย attractions. Spanning many fields of endeavours, the most popular places ofย rest are an eclectic mix.
Well written epitaphs
Many people like to bury themselves in a good book. It is notย a surprise therefore that the burial plots of some of the worldโs most belovedย writers are also highly sought after.
ย ยRenowned author, poet and wit Oscar Wilde was originallyย buried in the Cimetiere de Bagneux outside Paris but his remains were then disinterredย to PPre Lachaisse Cemetery inside the city. Wildeโs tomb was designed by theย controversial sculptor Sir Jacob Epstein and is considered a significant pieceย of art in its own right.
It was Samuel L. Clemens better known as Mark Twain who onceย said โReports of my death have been greatly exaggeratedโ. Theย popularity of his final resting place has not been. At the Woodlawn Cemetery inย Elmira, New York the Superintendent of the cemetery estimates that betweenย 2,000 to 3,000 visitors come each year to see Mark Twainโs grave.
Rock of ages
With music being the defining sound track to the lives ofย countless people, the graves of iconic musicians are often site of pilgrimage.
A grave that regularly receives a lot of visitors is that ofย rock legend Jim Morrison. Buried in the same cemetery as Oscar Wilde, theย singerโs gravestone has been emblazoned with tributes and mementoes fromย dedicated fans over the years.
Olโ Blue Eyes Frank Sinatra has โthe best is yet toย comeโ carved into his gravestone in Desert Memorial Park California.ย Sinatra has what he considered his life insuranceย packed inside the casket with him, a bottle of Jack Daniels.
Film Immortals
With their iconic roles forever captured on screen and inย the minds and hearts of fans, the graves of famous film stars have specialย significance to many.
Tragic screen star Marilyn Monroe is interred in a crypt inย the Corridor of Memories at the Westwood Village Memorial Park cemetery in Losย Angeles. In a bittersweet gesture worthy of a scene in a Hollywood movie herย former husband baseball star Joe DiMaggio had red roses placed in the vaseย attached to the crypt for 20 years.
Martial arts guru and action film star Bruce Lee whose lifeย was cut tragically short is buried in Seattleโs Lakeview Cemetery. Diehard fanscome from all over the world to pay tribute to the master.
In life and in death, these well-known personalitiesย continue to fascinate. The amount of interest that their grave sites generateย shows the impact their lives had. To remember, to be inspired, to reflect orย just out of curiosity, the reasons for visiting are as diverse as theย personalities themselves. By each visit to their place of remembrance it isย ensured that their legacy will never truly die.ย
This article was contributed by Lloyd, a freelance writer and blogger, who is currently working with Switch.ย
