Life is oh so fleeting. Ever since the dawn of civilization, mankind has strived to etch their names into history. From famous kings and war heroes to revolutionaries and great presidents of past generations, they all strived to make their mark to be forever remembered. In modern society, famous figures in society can range from actors to authors and even musicians, who are looked up to by everyday people all across the world. These celebrities have a degree of esteem that transcends their families’ love, and they left behind a legacy that will be reminisced by future generations. What better way to be remembered in history, if not by encapsulating their lives in an unforgettable epitaph. As such, we have come up with a list of tombstones that have quotable quotes engraved within them that you will surely not forget.
Jack Lemmon
Jack Lemmon is remembered for his iconic comedic roles in films such as The Apartment, The Odd Couple, and Some Like It Hot, among others. It was his great fortune that he was born into a well-off family, and although his childhood was riddled with ailments, he was able to receive his formal education from top schools and even earned his degree at Harvard University. As a professional, he initially became an actor for Broadway and radio productions. Ever since, he was cast in over sixty films. He is known for his exceptional comedic timing and uncanny wit, which earned the comedian eight Academy Award nominations and winning two of them.
Jack lived a full life of 76 years, and in true comedian fashion, his epitaph is as witty as it can get. It plainly reads, “Jack Lemon in,” and nothing but the ground below it.
Robert Lee Frost
Robert Lee Frost is one of the most distinguished American poets in history. He was of English descent and is a Californian, born in San Francisco on March 26, 1874. He came from the bloodline of the early settlers of the US and his father was also a writer like himself, who was an editor at the San Francisco Bulletin. He first attended college at Dartmouth College, where he would write his first poem for the school’s magazine. Later on, he would sell his first poem to the New York Independent and would continue his studies at Harvard University. Afterward, he would make a move to England to embark on his prolific writing career.
Frost is given credit for his great mastery of the American colloquial speech, and his writings would earn him four Pulitzer awards. Before his passing at the age of 88 in 1963, he instructed that the phrase, “I had a lover’s quarrel with the world,” be engraved on his tombstone. It is a phrase taken out of his 1941 poem A Lesson For Today.
Jayne Mansfield
Jayne Mansfield is one of the iconic beauties of the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema. She was given credit for being a major Hollywood sex symbol back in the ‘80s, who was also a singer as well as a nightclub entertainer. Mansfield was also a Playboy Playmate, who eventually turned to becoming an actress, under the major Hollywood studio, 20th Century Fox. She grew to infamy with various wardrobe malfunctions, which quickly built upon her growing Hollywood popularity. Although her acting career was short-lived, it was a distinguished one, having earned a Golden Globe and a Theater World Award. Some of her movies include Too Hot to Handle, The Girl Can’t Help It, and The Wayward Bus.
Jayne sadly passed away at the prime age of 34 in 1967. On her tombstone, they intentionally engraved her birth year wrong to 1938 instead of 1933. It was an homage to the infamous reports that the American actress lied about her age before.
Doc Holiday
Talk about a life lived straight out of a classic Western film. Doc Holiday is a gunslinging dentist and a famous gambler that lived during the 1850s until the late 1880s. He is considered to be an American historical figure with a notoriety of a mythmaker’s wet dream. Holiday earned his degree in Dentistry at Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery and later set up his clinic at Griffin, Georgia. He was riddled with tuberculosis, causing him to move to the American Southwest, where he became a prominent gambler. There he would be close to lawman Wyatt Earp, and eventually, he would be deputized himself. He is widely famous in American history for his role in the Gunfight at OK Corral, where they battled against the members of the Cochise County Cowboys.
There is no doubt that there is a great mysticism surrounding Doc’s life story, and his gravestone does not disappoint as well. It is a gravestone stating that somewhere within Linwood Cemetery, his body is buried.
Rick James
In 1964, the prolific bassist Rick James found himself in Toronto playing with the rock band Mynah Birds. They would be a target of Motown Records’ investments two years later. Sadly, his time with the band was short-lived as military duties soon called him off. James would return to the music scene stronger than ever in the late-’70s and would go on to release career-defining hit songs such as Super Freaks and Give It to Me Baby.
Through his illustrious music career, James has established himself to be one of the most influential funk and soulful musicians of all time. Outside of music, he was known to party hard, and to say that he has lived a full life is truly an understatement for the Super Freak. Etched on his epitaph is his glamorous portrait to signify to his friends and loved ones that he will continue on to party in the afterlife.
Merv Griffin
A lot can be said by the life of distinguished TV host Merv Griffin, but one thing is for sure, he lived a fully successful life. He grew up singing in his local church choir while developing his skills with the organ and piano. By the age of 19, he was already singing on the radio, where he would be noticed by American saxophonist Freddy Martin. Griffin toured alongside his orchestra for four years, and in 1945, he had saved enough investment money to start his record company. At that point, he focused on growing his music career before diving into TV hosting by 1958. He is known for hosting The Merv Griffin Show before having a hand in popular TV game shows such as Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!.
Griffin has always toyed with the idea of writing, “I will not return after this message,” on his gravestone. To his eternal delight, he did get that written on his tombstone – truly fitting for a man that has etched his name in entertainment media history.
Dean Martin
Dubbed as the King of Cool, Dean Martin was a famous singer and actor who rose to a degree of enduring prominence in the industry alongside comedian Jerry Lewis. Their duo, Martin & Lewis, made countless appearances in nightclubs, radio stations, TV, and even films. After Martin parted ways with the comedian, he solidified his hold of widespread fame through his solo career as an actor and entertainer. Moreover, he propped up his career to become a successful recording music artist while becoming one of the staple acts in Las Vegas. There the Rat Pack was formed, consisting of Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Sammy Davis Jr.
During the senior years of his career, Martin has also established himself to be a prominent TV personality. He was the roastmaster of the popular show Dean Martin Celebrity Roast. He passed away in 1995 at the age of 78, and engraved on his tombstone reads, “Everybody Loves Somebody,” which is one of his classic songs.
Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason was a famous comedian and actor back in the ‘50s through the ‘70s. His ticket to fame was his signature brash type of humor in the medium of visual comedy. He was born and raised in Brooklyn and would start his career on stage plays before making it big in the TV industry. Gleason is best known for shows such as The Jackie Gleason Show, The Life of Riley, and The Honeymooners. Simultaneously, he remained a prominent figure in Broadway as well as having a music career. To his credit, his music was not without success as well. He successfully launched ten albums and sold millions.
Apart from all the success in TV and music, Gleason is forever remembered for his great contributions to Broadway. His most iconic musical number was the And Away We Go, which grew to such popularity that the phrase is forever attached to the comedian’s name. The phrase is also engraved at the steps leading to his tombstone.
Joe Mafela
For his start in the entertainment industry, Joe Mafela landed acting credits for several movies. He debuted at 22 years old with the 1964 film Zulu. Other movies he worked on since then include Udeliwe, Shout at the Devil, Escape from Angola, and A Game for Vultures.
Along the way, however, the actor also landed more than a few on-screen appearances in TV shows. Thanks to that, his fame skyrocketed to even higher levels of success. A couple of notable titles in this medium include ‘Sgudi ‘Snaysi, Khululeka, Fela’s TV, and Red Scorpion. While he may have already said goodbye to his career under the spotlight, Mafela is anything but forgotten. Through the years, family, friends, and fans visit the actor’s tombstone at Westpark Cemetery, which isn’t too difficult to miss – it’s hard to overlook a TV set, after all.
Bette Davis
Inspired by Peg Entwistle’s performance on the stage production titled The Wild Duck, Bette Davis immediately pursued a career in the acting scene. Debuting as a stage actress for the play Broadway, Davis continued with roles in productions such as The Earth Between, Solid South, and of course, The Wild Duck. To make matters more interesting, she portrayed Hedwig, Entwistle’s role during The Wild Duck’s previous run.
A few years later, Davis made her way into the Hollywood film industry. While her earlier roles were mostly for panned films, the actress eventually got her first shot to fame with 1934’s Of Human Bondage. Since then, she has garnered an even higher degree of success thanks to her performance in Jezebel, The Letter, Now, Voyager, and Dark Victory. “She did it the hard way” is written on her tombstone, a nice note commemorating her contributions to the industry and to the people around her.
Ed Wynn
As early as his teens, Ed Wynn began working a couple of jobs to help with whatever personal loans he had. While he may have made a living as a utility boy and hat salesman, Wynn eventually found even more fame and success in the entertainment industry.
His first stints under the spotlight were mainly for stage productions, where he gained widespread recognition for his performance in The Perfect Fool. Wynn then found his way into the radio scene and hosted the show titled The Fire Chief. Along the way, though, he also landed a couple of acting gigs, notably for Disney classics such as Alice in Wonderland, Mary Poppins, and That Darn Cat. To this day, his performance continues to be a source of inspiration for many actors. In fact, he also holds the title of being a Disney Legend! For all his achievements, though, the actor only has one thing to say: “Thanks.”
Billy Wilder
While his family may have made a good investment in their cake shop, Billy Wilder focused his attention on another career path. Starting as a journalist, Wilder eventually had the chance to establish plenty of relationships in the entertainment industry – and this was before he even made a name for himself as a filmmaker!
After a few years working in the journalism business, Wilder found an interest in screenwriting and, not long after, filmmaking. His first shot to fame came when he wrote the script of 1933’s Oscar-nominated film Ninotchka. Since then, the filmmaker garnered even more praise and recognition for his work on widely-acclaimed movies such as Double Indemnity, The Lost Weekend, Sabrina, and Ace in the Hole. Despite making a couple of dramatic features, Wilder is often known for his comedic films and sense of humor. In fact, one of his legacies is the words written on his tombstone, which is a callback to his 1959 film, Some Like It Hot.
Andy Warhol
Even during his childhood, Andy Warhol already had a fondness for all things related to art. He would draw, listen to the radio, and even collect pictures of celebrities. While it didn’t seem like much during that moment, Warhol ultimately credits those moments as one of the most significant ones in his life.
This knack for creating artworks eventually brought the artist to the entertainment industry. Along with making a fortune thanks to his pieces, including the 1963 canvas Silver Car Crash, which sold for an astounding $105 million, Warhol also had the chance to work on a couple of films, including 1964’s Empire and 1966’s Chelsea Girls. While he is often recognized for creating colorful pieces, the same couldn’t be said for the filmmaker/artist’s tombstone, which has a simple black-and-grey design. Even so, that hasn’t stopped fans from leaving behind things related to his works, such as a few Campbell’s Soup cans.
Peter Falk
Throughout his childhood, Peter Falk did a lot of things. Of course, this included playing sports such as basketball and baseball. Along the way, though, at 12 years old, Falk had the chance to star in a stage play entitled The Pirates of Penzance. Little did he know that stint became the first step he made towards achieving celebrity stardom.
Over the years, many big-name figures in the entertainment industry praise Falk for his ability to smoothly transition between dramatic and comedic performances. With that said, a couple of on-screen projects he’s worked on throughout his career include Pocketful of Miracles, The Cheap Detective, Wings of Desire, and his all-time iconic portrayal of the titular character in the Columbo TV series. Besides achieving a high degree of recognition under the spotlight, however, the actor was also happily married to actress Shera Danese – which is made all the more apparent with the touching note written on his tombstone.
Oscar Wilde
While the film and TV industry has plenty of big-name figures to look up to, it would be a disservice to ignore the many significant people in the world of literature. Of course, one such person that has since become quite known among many would be Oscar Wilde.
Wilde is regarded for his work in journalism, poetry, and storytelling. Along with gaining quite a reputation for his iconic fashion sense, the writer also cemented his place among literature’s greatest figures by creating works such as The Picture of Dorian Gray novel, the script of the 1891 play Salome, and the poem entitled The Ballad of Reading Gaol. One of the phrases written on his grave says, “A kiss may ruin a human life.” Like a severe case of irony, however, hundreds of fans left lipstick marks on the late writer’s tombstone. Since they caused the stone to decay, the marks were eventually cleaned off, and the tomb was secured with a glass barrier.
Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy
Everyone loves a good laugh every once in a while. Since its inception, the entertainment industry has introduced the world to numerous talented comedians. For now, though, let’s focus on one of history’s most iconic comedy duos, Laurel & Hardy.
Composed of comedians Oliver Hardy and Stan Laurel, the duo were already well-known figures even before they finally teamed up. Hardy already performed in more than 250 stage gigs while Laurel landed an acting credit for around 50 films, though he also worked as a writer and director. Together, the two garnered even more fame and starred in over a hundred projects, including 32 short silent films and 107 films. While the two may have been buried in different cemeteries, the writings on their tombstones bring them together. Besides these, numerous statues were also made to commemorate the duo, especially in England.
John Belushi
Like many of his colleagues, John Belushi began his career in a comedy troupe. After performing a couple of gigs with the West Compass Trio, which he founded, Belushi eventually got the attention of Bernard Sahlins, the founder of one of the most well-known improv groups, The Second City.
Not long after, the comedian garnered widespread fame and recognition for his work on the comedy show Saturday Night Live. Along with taking credit for being one of the show’s original cast members, Belushi also had the chance to star in a couple of films, including National Lampoon’s Animal House, Neighbors, and of course, The Blues Brothers. Nowadays, fans visit and leave things like bottles on the late comedian’s grave. Perhaps they just wanted to share a few drinks with him, who knows? One thing’s for sure, though, like rock and roll, Belushi’s legacy in the entertainment industry lives on to this day.
Frank Sinatra
Throughout his childhood, Frank Sinatra already found a passion for singing. Often listening to big band jazz music, Sinatra credits artists such as Russ Colombo, Gene Austin, and most especially, Bing Crosby as his idols. After a couple of stints performing alongside other bands, the singer continued his career as a solo artist. From there on out, his career soared to greater heights.
Now often recognized as one of the music industry’s most iconic figures, Sinatra also had quite a successful run in the acting business, even winning an Academy Award for his work on the 1953 film From Here to Eternity! Along with “Beloved Husband & Father,” “The Best Is Yet to Come” is written on Sinatra’s grave. By the looks of it, he’s right. While there are now more new artists in the music scene today, it’s safe to say many of them consider the late singer as one of their idols – the same way he did with Crosby.
Jimi Hendrix
Whenever we think of Jimi Hendrix, it would almost always be an image of him with a guitar, jamming to a tune. Throughout the earlier years of his childhood, Hendrix would often play with a broom like it was a guitar. He eventually found a one-stringed ukulele, his first stringed instrument. A few years later, though, at 15 years old, Hendrix finally got his first guitar.
From that point onward, he would listen to experienced guitarists daily and learn from their techniques. Soon after, Hendrix finally found his way to the music scene. While his career only spanned four years, the musician continues to garner a skyrocketing degree of recognition, and by the looks of it, it’ll stay that way for generations to come. Now universally considered as one of the world’s greatest musicians of all time, fans often visit his shrine at Renton’s Greenwood Cemetery.
Winston Churchill
At this point, just about everyone has at least heard of Winston Churchill’s name. While he is most often recognized for his efforts in the world of politics, Churchill also tried his hand in other endeavors, notably the arts. Along with writing a novel, memoirs, articles, and two biographies, he also made investments in the construction business, working as a bricklayer. Plus, he also made hundreds of paintings under the pseudonym “Charles Morin.”
For a highly-regarded figure such as him, it’s no surprise an impressive amount of effort was made for Churchill’s funeral. His coffin was brought to the river Thames before it made its way to Waterloo, perhaps as a way for the President of France to say his farewells. Before his untimely passing, though, Churchill uttered a few words. Of course, in Churchill fashion, he managed to inject some of his signature wit and humor into them.
Walt Disney
Among many things, Walt Disney developed an interest in drawing throughout his childhood – one of his earlier works was a drawing of the former neighborhood doctor’s horse. He then polished his talent by following the illustrations seen in the local newspaper. Well, thanks to his hard work and dedication, he eventually made his way to becoming one of the world’s talented illustrators.
Since then, Disney has taken plenty of credit for pioneering America’s animation industry. Of course, a couple of his timeless works include films such as Pinocchio, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Cinderella. Besides this, though, Disney also found great success as an entrepreneur, venturing on to other endeavors like amusement parks and TV programs. Despite his warm and outgoing persona, however, Disney is often known as quite a shy person, which is probably one reason why his funeral was exclusive to only his family and friends.
William Shakespeare
To some degree, it’s safe to say we all recognize William Shakespeare. Among many things, he is most known for his work in the world of literature. Beginning his career around 1592, Shakespeare has since earned the honor of being regarded as one of the world’s greatest dramatists and poets.
To this day, he receives widespread praise and recognition for creating timeless classics such as Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Othello, and Hamlet. With his knack for crafting excellent prose, it’s no surprise the last wishes on his tombstone were written as a poem. To summarize the message, anyone who touches his bones will be cursed. While this grave is more than a century old at this point, it sure looks like the passage’s impact lives on. In 2008, the grave had to go through repairs. Even so, the workers still made it a point to follow the late writer’s last wishes. Perhaps the outcome of doing so will be akin to one of his stories.
Edgar Allan Poe
Another well-known figure regarded for his contributions to literature, Edgar Allan Poe began his journey in 1827 when he published Tamerlane and Other Poems. Along the way, he also dabbled in journalism, working as a literary critic.
Among his other stints, however, Poe has since become most known for his short stories and poems. This includes titles such as The Cask of Amontillado, The Pit and the Pendulum, and of course, The Raven. Since then, he has received credit for various things, such as inventing detective fiction and popularizing the sci-fi genre. Despite his reputation, though, his grave went through quite a journey. This, of course, includes the making of a monument that was not only too big, but also mislabeled the late writer’s birthday. Thankfully, these hurdles came to pass. Poe now rests in Westminister Hall, located in Baltimore, where no trouble will ever come his way. Nevermore.
Jules Verne
If you’ve ever seen and enjoyed the 2008 movie Journey to the Center of the Earth, then you have Jules Verne to credit for the plotline. Of course, Josh Hutcherson and Brendan Fraser also had their contributions, but at the core of it all is Verne’s book of the same title, which he first published back in 1864 in French. The majority of his novels were set in the second half of the 19th century and took into consideration the technological advancements of the era. Verne was not someone who just wrote haplessly, but all his writings were carefully researched; hence the details were pretty accurate.
When he passed, he was then buried at the Cimetiere de la Madeleine in Amiens, France. His tomb shows him bursting out of the grave, seemingly excited to tell us what lies underneath the Earth’s core. This is also an ode to the book and his many other works.
Marilyn Monroe
“Blonde Bombshell” Marilyn Monroe had a very prolific career. She was also considered one of the major pop icons not just in the US but the world. Even after she has passed on, Monroe is still given credit as Hollywood’s greatest female screen legend. We have to praise her for really doing her best during that time, despite a challenging childhood. Did you know she even worked at a factory when she was only 16 years old?
At the time of her passing, however, she no longer was someone who could be easily forgotten. How could she be when she founded her own company so she could no longer be underpaid? The tombstone of this ‘60s and ‘70s beauty has been kissed by many of her fans, that there is now what appears to be an eternal kiss mark on the face of the solid granite. This only goes to show that while she may no longer be here, her fans continue to admire Monroe.
Samuel Burl Kinison
Could preachers be comedians? Well, Samuel Burl Kinison proved that a “fire and brimstone” approach could also work. His Pentecostal way of preaching was a great degree of influence on how he conducted comedy. Mind you, he also poked fun at Christianity and the Bible, all in good faith, of course. His crass observational humor was appreciated by many, which led to him appearing on Saturday Night Live and Late Night with David Letterman.
Due to the circumstances of his passing, fans were surprised, and so did his colleagues. So, what they did was to pay homage to their contemporary in their succeeding performances, a practice common among actors even today. His tombstone was simple, containing his details and the engraving: “In another time and place, he would have been called prophet.” This could have been true if he was born during Biblical times.
Harry Houdini
Hungarian-born illusionist Harry Houdini is perhaps one of the most famous magicians of all time. He first gained recognition in the US as Harry “Handcuff” Houdini. At this juncture, he challenged police officers to lock him up, and he would escape, thus giving him the nickname. In 1904, many watched his attempt to break free of several handcuffs. At one time, he even had himself buried alive, only to claw out the last minute as everyone held their breath.
Houdini also tried becoming an actor, but money was not coming in. Perhaps a financial advisor told him to stop after some time, but all we know is he walked away. When he passed, more than 2,000 mourners attended. He was then buried in the Machpelah Cemetery in Glendale, Queens, New York. We might be surprised if we exhume the body one day and find out he made the final escape.
Jim Morrison
Jim Morrison’s lineage was colorful—English, Irish and Scottish. All of these have somehow shaped his music. Some of the incidents he witnessed as a child also made it to the lyrics of his music. One such example was a car mishap he saw back in 1947, which he immortalized in the song Peace Frog. As an adult, Morrison became the lead vocalist of The Doors and as a critical part of the rock music movement. He was given credit for his role in the counterculture movement of that time.
There were controversies surrounding his passing, which also affected the band’s sale, so they decided to split in 1973. Despite all these, he has not been forgotten. Fans still flock to his grave in Paris, which has become a sort of tourist attraction. People usually leave flowers and cigarettes to commemorate their idol.
Billy Mays
What is a direct-response advertisement salesperson? Well, think of those you encountered selling insurance products or cable TV in malls or other establishments—that was what Billy Mays did when he was still alive. He was active in promoting brands and products like Kaboom, Zorbeez, and OxiClean. While the tendency for us is to shun direct marketers, that is not the case with Mays. People tended to go to him because of his charisma and recognized TV presence both in Canada and the US.
He was so well-loved that during his funeral in 2009, his pallbearers gave tribute by wearing blue shirts and khaki pants, which was his signature attire. His black tombstone also contained the phrase “beloved husband father and son,” a fitting description from his family. At the bottom of the marking was the word “Pitchman,” which encapsulated what he did while still alive.
Elvis Presley
There is no doubt that Elvis Presley is one of the best and most significant cultural icons of the 20th century. He, after all, interpreted songs with his provocative style and powerful mix of influence that transcended bitter color lines. Little did Presley know that when the family contacted the moving company to move to Memphis from Tupelo, it would lead him to his career. He started in 1954 intending to bring African-American music to a wider audience, which he gracefully accomplished.
This is probably why he is still loved by fans despite his early passing, sadly to the point where his grave was frequently vandalized. An executive decision was made, and his tombstone was moved to Graceland. It is not as accessible as before, giving the singer and his mother their much-needed peace. Those who wanted to visit can still do so with the appropriate Graceland tour tickets.
Sir Isaac Newton
Science lovers would always point to Sir Isaac Newton as one of their inspirations. That is justifiable because of the degree and breadth of this man’s contribution to the world. Apple aside, his discoveries on the law of motion and gravitation, which he published in Mathematical Principles of Natual Philosophy, could very well be his most significant accomplishment. He even built the first practical telescope so that one day, we could look beyond the Earth and into space.
Though he passed on unmarried in 1727, at a ripe age of 84, Newton had the distinction of being buried in Westminster Abbey. The statue on his tomb depicts him under a globe, perhaps as a tribute to his discovery of the laws surrounding gravity. Do you know who else will be interred next to Sir Isaac Newton? Well, the legendary Stephen Hawking. Imagine the kind of conversation they would have.
Charlie Chaplin
During the era of silent films, Charlie Chaplin made a lot of noise. His career spanned more than 75 years, right from childhood and before he made peace with his Creator in 1977. Over the long and prolific years, he has appeared in a multitude of movies, including Modern Times, A Woman of Paris, and The Gold Rush. There were times when Chaplin was met with controversies, which made a significant setback in his career. A renewed appreciation of his work later happened after immigration lawyers helped him settle in Switzerland.
Even after his passing, there appear to be some issues always, as at one time, his resting place was disturbed by a pair of criminals. His remains were eventually recovered and re-interred in the same cemetery at Corsier sur Vevey, located in Switzerland. This time around, they did not take chances and erected reinforced concrete all throughout.
Louis Armstrong
Nicknamed Satch, Louis Armstrong was one of the most influential figures in jazz music during his lifetime. He was quite known for the gravelly voice that he used to his advantage by bending the melody and even the song’s lyrics. Armstrong became one of the first popular African-Americans that also had a wide reach among the white community, but he did not use this advantage to advance political stands—much to the community’s dismay.
He made investments, though, in making sure his career would leave a legacy. To some extent, he also helped the Black community because he was able to penetrate the exclusive echelons of wealthy white men. When he went over to the other side, he asked for a simple gravestone, and it only had one of his nicknames, Satchmo, and his full name. His funeral was another matter as it was attended by more than 25,000 people.
Al Capone
Sometimes known as Scarface, Al Capone was a gangster and businessman who attained fame as the boss of the Chicago Outfit. The long hands of the law caught up with him, and his lawyers were unable to stop the Government from putting him in jail. Capone was someone who reveled in the attention, and so the cheers from spectators when he attended ball games at that time were sort of a youth potion for him. He also displayed good (read this as bad) business acumen by being friends with the mayor, making him practically untouchable.
Right after he passed, Capone was buried in Chicago. It was later decided that his remains be moved to Mount Carmel Cemetery, located in Hillside, Illinois, so he could join his father and brother. His tombstone is something that still attracts attention, with its size and simple engraving. What could he be doing in the afterlife?
Princess Diana
With Prince Philippine joining Princess Diana in the afterlife recently, there has been renewed interest in the life lived by the People’s Princess. Diana, Princess of Wales, is the mother of Prince William, who is set to inherit the throne after his father, and Prince Harry, the rather controversial royal married to Meghan Markle. These two princes are all praises for their mother, as well as the people of Britain. Her charisma and activism were what made Princess Diana a figure that the masses could emulate.
Diana’s remains are now resting in the Spencer family estate in North Hampshire. It is one of the best there is, worthy of all the investment money, as it lies on an island in the middle of the lake. There is no tombstone or grave to be seen, but there is an urn and shrine that is dedicated to the princess. During his funeral, the outpouring of love was very apparent.
Bob Marley
With very distinctive songwriting and vocal style, Bob Marley made significant contributions in the reggae music genre. He was largely given credit for being a global figure that put Jamaican music on the map. Marley was also a Rastafarian icon, with his music infused with a sense of spirituality. The reggae pioneer was a very persistent voice on his calls for Pan-Africanism. He was not all solo at the start, however, as Marley began his music career with Bob Marley and the Wailers. They released an eponymous album, which contained the single, One Love/People Get Ready, their breakthrough song.
When he passed, his remains were brought back to Jamaica, where the government then made his birthday a national holiday. So, on February 8, annually, fans from all around the world would flock to his grave, have a music festival and party. This goes to show that Marley was such a beloved music figure.
Aaliyah
It is always essential that we check the car whenever traveling, making sure there is ample gas and the brakes are working. How do you do that when traveling a plane, when we put the trust in the pilot? We could not fault Aaliyah for taking off that fateful day, but we can always remember her legacy as a singer. At age 22, she had already been dubbed the “Queen of Urban Pop” and “Princess of R&B,” which showed the extent of her talents. Her debut album, Age Ain’t Nothing, but a Number, was certified double platinum by the RIAA.
What was supposed to be a long and prolific career was cut short back in 2001. Her legacy, however, has remained solid. She also left behind a very simple engraving on her tombstone, just the words “Aaliyah, Baby Girl.” Fans still go to her grave when they can.
Dee Dee Ramone
Known for being the founding member and bass player of the punk band Ramones, Dee Dee Ramone was also the band’s composer and lyricist. He is the name and brain behind popular songs like Commando, Rockaway Beach, and Bonzo Goes to Bitburg. At a certain point in his career, he also toured the world and released solo albums while still writing for Ramones. He was an active force in the music scene until he passed on in 2002.
Ramone was, without a doubt, loved by his fans, which was all due to his massive investments in his music. So often, his tombstone is covered with kisses, much like what you would expect from Marilyn Monroe’s. He also had a very simple gravestone, which features his real name as well as his nickname. It also says, “O.K…I gotta go now,” which is probably addressed to his fans.
Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin was well known for his contributions to the science of evolution, with his proposition now widely accepted that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestors and considered a foundational concept in science. Along with Alfred Russell Wallace, he introduced his scientific theory that the branching pattern of evolution came from a process he called natural selection, in which the struggle for existence has a related effect to the artificial selection in selective breeding. Darwin has been widely credited as one of the most influential figures in human history and considered a great scientist who had revolutionized ideas.
With more than 400 scientists and officials from across the globe who met in Cambridge to commemorate his centenary and the 50th anniversary of his On the Origin of Species, Darwin was honored on the said occasion. The English naturalist passed on in 1882, and his final resting place is in Westminster Abbey in the United Kingdom. Darwin’s gravesite headstone is comprised of white marble with his name and dates engraved on it.
Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway was credited with the Nobel Prize in Literature back in 1954. His economical and understated style, which he termed the iceberg theory, provided a strong influence on the 20th-century fiction. His public image and adventurous lifestyle brought him admiration from succeeding generations. Most of his works were produced between the mid-‘20s and mid-‘50s, and he published two nonfiction works, six short-story collections, and seven novels. Posthumously, four short-story collections, three novels, and three nonfiction works of his were also published. Many of his works are considered classics of American literature.
After his reputation was established with the publication of The Sun Also Rises, Hemingway became the spokesperson for the post-World War I generation. In 1926, The New York Times shared Hemingway’s first novel, The Sun Also Rises, that no amount of analysis can convey its quality. Hemingway passed on in 1961, eternally resting in Idaho’s Rocky Mountain, and the gravesite has a simple grey granite headstone with his name and dates etched on it.
Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor started her career as a child actress in the early ‘40s, and she was one of the most celebrated stars of classical Hollywood cinema in the ‘50s. In the ‘60s, Taylor continued her career successfully and maintained a well-known public figure for the rest of her life. The American Film Institute labeled her the seventh greatest female screen legend of Classic Hollywood cinema back in 1999. Taylor made her acting debut with a minor role in There’s One Born Every Minute, a Universal Pictures film, in 1942. She then signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and became a popular teen star after appearing in the sports film National Velvet in 1944.
In the ‘80s, the late actress performed in her first substantial stage roles and in several television series and films. Apart from her acting career, Taylor also ventured into some business investments like her perfume line. Moreover, she founded the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation in 1991. Since her passing back in 2011, she was interred in Forest Lawn in California. The gravesite features an open-armed angel with words “In Memoria” in the Gothic script engraved above.
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee founded the Jeet Kune Do, which is hybrid martial arts that draws from different combat disciplines and is often credited for paving the way for modern mixed martial arts (MMA). The Chinese-American martial artist, actor, and director is considered by critics, commentators, and other martial arts practitioners as one of the most influential martial artists of all time, as well as a pop culture icon of the 20th century who reconciled the gap between the East and West.
In the early ‘70s, Lee was noted for his roles in five feature-length martial arts films, such as The Big Boss, Way of the Dragon, Fist of Fury, Enter the Dragon, and The Game of Death. From then onward, Lee had attained a tremendous degree of success in his career. Unfortunately, Lee departed this life in 1973, and his resting place draws a flock of fans from all around the world. On his headstone, a light-reddish granite, is a photo of Lee with the phrase “Founder of Jeet Kune Do” engraved on it.
Johnny Cash
American musician, songwriter, singer, and actor Johnny Cash was known for his music that contained themes of moral tribulation, sorrow, and redemption, especially in the latter part of his career, with his calm and deep bass-baritone voice. Cash was credited with the nickname “The Man in Black” for his all-black stage wardrobe trademark during concerts. After serving four years in the United States Air Force, the singer started to rise to fame in the growing rockabilly scene in Memphis, Tennessee.
Since then, his career had flourished, and he became one of the best-selling music artists of all time with more than 90 million records sold worldwide that includes a wide range of music genres that included rock and roll, country, rockabilly, folk, blues, and gospel piece. Cash passed on over twenty years, yet his trademark color is evident on the tombstone he shared with his wife, June Carter, with one of their respective famous songs engraved on it—I Walk The Line and Wildwood Flower.
Karl Marx
German philosopher, political theorist, historian, and economist Karl Marx lived in exile in London for decades due to his political publications and continued developing his thought in collaboration with Friedrich Engels, a German thinker, and published his writings. Marx’s best-known titles include The Communist Manifesto, an 1848 pamphlet, and Das Kapital, a three-volume text. His philosophical and political thought had an enormous influence on subsequent economic, intellectual, and political history.
Marx has been considered as one of the most influential figures in human history, with his works both credited and criticized. His work in economics became the basis for some current theories about labor and its relation to capital. In modern science, he is often considered one of the principal architects. In 1883, Marx departed this life and was interred in East Highgate Cemetery in England. His gravestone has a sculpture of his face and epitaphs.
Cindy Walker
Cindy Walker was widely creditedfor many popular and enduring songs recorded by various artists through her craftsman-like approach to songwriting. The American songwriter often tailored songs to specific recording artists and produced a large body of songs that were described as honest, direct, and unpretentious. For five decades, Walker made top-ten hit songs, and she was eventually inducted in 1997 into the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2011.
Among the famous songs written by Walker included Dusty Skies, Heaven Says Hello, I Hear You Talkin’, and You Don’t Know Me, to name a few. Throughout her career, she made a huge impact and influence in the music industry. Although Walker departed this world, her legend lingered on and immortalized through her the songs she had written. In her resting place in Mexia, Texas, a memorial sculpture of a relatively large guitar in her signature color, pink, can be seen on her tombstone and a bench with her name etched on it.
Michael Jackson
Widely regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century, Michael Jackson had contributed to music, fashion, dance, and philanthropy throughout his four-decade career. His highly publicized personal life had made him a global figure in popular culture and influenced artists across various genres. Jackson popularized unconventional dance moves such as the moonwalk through video and stage performances. He was credited with fifteen Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, six Brit Awards, and thirty-nine Guinness World Records in his career, making him the most awarded music artist in history.
Jackson made his professional debut as a member of the Jackson 5 in 1964. Eventually, he started his solo career in 1971 with some of his famous singles like Beat It, Billie Jean, Thriller, and Bad, among many others. The multi-awarded music departed this life in 2009 and was interred in an unmarked place at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in California.
Charles Lindbergh
American inventor, aviator, military officer, and author Charles Lindbergh came from anonymity as the United States Air Mail pilot. He expressed global fame after winning the Orteig Prize for making a solo transatlantic nonstop flight in1927 from New York City to Paris, covering 33.5 hours and 3,600 statute miles of lone flight in a custom-built, single-engine Ryan monoplane called the Spirit of St. Louis. The feat was the turning point of the world’s development and advancement in aviation.
At the time, Lindbergh was a member of the United States Army Air Corps Reserve and credited with the Medal of Honor—United States’ highest military honor—for his transatlantic flight achievement. In later life, Lindbergh was actively involved in conservation movements and deeply concerned about the impacts of new technologies on the natural world and the native people of Hawaii. In 1974, Lindbergh departed this life and was interred on the island of Maui in Hawaii, behind a church called Palapala Ho’omau. His final resting place has many rocks surrounding his headstone with colorful plants on its corners.
Buck Owens
Buck Owens was the frontman of the band Buck Owens and the Buckaroos that had 21 No. 1 hits on the Billboard country music charts, and he pioneered what came to be called the Bakersfield sound in honor of Bakersfield, California. It was his adopted home and the city where he drew inspiration for what he favored to call “American music.” Apart from his singing, Owens also co-hosted the popular television variety show on the CBS network, Hee Haw, with Roy Clark, from 1969 to 1986. For his contribution to music, Owens was inducted in both the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Also, his name was credited to the stretch of US Highway 82 in Sherman in his honor—Buck Owens Freeway.
As one of the most acknowledged musicians in the 20th century, Owens’ trademark riffs and unique voice turned him into a legend of country music. With his passing in 2006, his body was interred into a mausoleum, fit for royalty. It’s named “The Buck Owens Family—Buck’s Place.”
Sylvia Plath
Credited for advancing the genre of confessional poetry, American poet, short-story writer, and novelist Sylvia Plath was best known for The Colossus and Other Poems and Ariel, two of her published collections, as well as the semi-biographical novel The Bell Jar. She was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry in 1982 for The Collected Poems, published in 1981, making her the fourth to receive such honor posthumously.
In 1965, after Ariel was published, her fame started to rise. On the other hand, Smith College, Plath’s alma matter, houses her literary papers in the Smith College Library. As part of the Overlooked history project of The New York Times, it published an obituary for Plath. The poet passed on in 1963 and was interred in St. Thomas Churchyard in England. Engraved on her tombstones are some of the scriptures of a classic novel in Chinese literature.
James Joyce
Irish novelist, literary critic, and poet James Joyce was regarded as one of the most influential and important writers of the 20th century who contributed to the modernist avant-garde movement. One of his best-known novels included Ulysses, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, and Finnegans Wake, as well as the short-story Dubliners. His work has been credited as an important influence for many writers, such as Samuel Beckett, Jorge Luis Borges, Salman Rushdie, Robert Anton Wilson, and John Updike, to mention a few, as his novel, Ulysses, often considered as the summation of the entire modernist movement.
Joyce’s works are housed at the National Library of Ireland with a large collection of manuscripts and notebooks. His name was also dedicated in Dublin centers, such as the James Joyce Tower and Museum in Sandycove. With Joyce’s passing in 1941, his final resting place is in Fluntern Cemetery located in Switzerland, beside his wife and son, watched over by a statue of a poet.
John Wayne
John Wayne became a popular icon during the Golden Age of Hollywood through his starring roles in films, especially in war and Western movies. Throughout the ‘20s, his career flourished from the silent era until the American New Wave, where he starred in a total of 179 film and television productions. For three decades, Wayne was among the top box-office draws and appeared with many other important stars in the entertainment industry of his era. The iconic actor was credited as one of the greatest male stars of classic American cinema by the American Film Institute back in 1999.
Some of the famous films where Wayne starred include The Searchers, The Cowboys, True Grit, Red River, The Alamo, Stagecoach, and The Shootist, to mention a few. In Wayne’s passing in 1979, he was rested in Pacific View Mortuary & Memorial Park in California. His headstone was engraved with a memorable quote from an interview he gave in 1971. It also has etched scenery of a mountain-like figure and a man riding a horse.
Frederic Chopin
Frederic Chopin had maintained a tremendous degree of worldwide acclaim as a leading musician of his era, a poetic genius that was without equal in his generation based on a professional technique. The Polish virtuoso pianist and composer wrote primarily for solo piano. As a child prodigy, he became a part of Congress Poland in 1815, and he finished his musical education and composed his earlier works in Warsaw prior to leaving Poland at the age of 20. During his adult life, some of the influences on his style of composition were Polish folk music, classical tradition of J. S. Bach, Schubert, Mozart, and the atmosphere of Paris salons, of which he was a frequent guest.
Chopin’s works remain popular, and he has been the subject of numerous biographies and films. In 1849, the genius composer departed this life, and his final resting place is at Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. His gravestone has a weeping stone sculpture of Euterpe, the Greek muse of music, holding a broken instrument. It also features Chopin’s sculpted side view profile.
John Wilkes Booth
Infamously known as the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth carried out the lethal deed at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865, in Washington, D.C. He was a noted Confederate sympathizer and denounced President. In his childhood, Booth was athletic and popular to a great degree, skilled in fencing and horsemanship. He attended the Bel-Air Academy. He aspired to emulate his father and brother, who were both actors, eventually started practicing elocution daily in the woods around Tudor Hall as well as studying Shakespeare.
At age 17, Booth made his stage debut in 1855 in Richard III in the supporting role of the Earl of Richmond at Baltimore’s Charles Street Theatre. On the other hand, many movies and books were produced about Booth’s life. In 1865, he departed this life and interred in his family’s plot in Greenmount Cemetery in Baltimore, with a white gravestone resembling an obelisk.
Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson often embraced a solitary life, a trait that allowed her to reconcile and compartmentalize her feelings, something that enabled her to become a remarkable poet. During her teenage days, the poet wrote a number of poetry and letters that have remained undiscovered until after her death. Her work was only published when Lavinia, her sister, discovered her writings. Dickinson is the given credit of being one of the literary giants of American literature.
Dickinson’s isolation was speculated by many scholars. They concluded that she had mental conditions, such as depression, agoraphobia, which was perhaps triggered by the responsibility of guarding her sick mother. In the 1860s, she virtually had not left their homestead. However, it was also during this time when her writings have been prolific. Dickinson’s gravestone is inscribed with a conspicuous text—CALLED BACK—along with the date of her birth and death. Her words continue to live on.
Mark Twain
Samuel Clemens, whom we know as Mark Twain, wasn’t just any other writer. He was a journalist, a lecturer, an inventor, and an entrepreneur, and more importantly, he was a riverboat pilot. There’s only much one can learn in a lifetime, but Twain’s sense of wanderlust is also apparent in his major classics such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain’s boyhood experiences fueled his writing. He often alluded to the violence he often witnessed as a boy to scenes in both his major novels. Before he started writing, Twain fulfilled his childhood dream of piloting a steamboat, a job that would provide him stability. However, a Civil War arose, which impeded civilian traffic on the river. Due to the looming uncertainty, he headed west and worked for the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise as a reporter, which was the job that gassed up Twain’s writing prowess.
Twain’s final resting place was in Woodlawn cemetery. He was buried among US veterans and congressmen. His gravestone is quite simple; visitors would often leave pennies and cigarettes, the few pleasures he was accustomed to.
President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy was the 35th president of the U.S. Before becoming head of the state, Kennedy served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, which helped him greatly. The crises in Berlin and Cuba fell on Kennedy’s term but his achievements in the Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty and the Alliance for Progress are noteworthy. As a president, Kennedy’s greatest accomplishments were in the field of foreign affairs. He launched the Peace Corps in 1961 which attracted 170,000 volunteers in over 135 countries. He also gained credit for the Alliance for Progress, which aimed to alleviate poverty in Latin America. Unfortunately, the president met his demise when he was assassinated in 1963.
A president is expected to have a grand gravestone but Kennedy’s is quite the opposite: simple yet classy. It is situated next to his wife’s, where an eternal flame is suspended above them.
Alexander Hamilton
We have often heard of Alexander Hamilton’s name in the lyrics of the musical Hamilton, but behind these words sing of someone recognized to be a founding father of the United States, a soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War and was the first secretary of the treasury. After having been abandoned by his father, the young Hamilton was already working at the age of 11 years old. Unfortunately, despite his hard work, more negativity flooded him when his mother became ill and passed away. Hamilton had an exceptional degree of intelligence. He learned more through hands-on experience and left college to protest against British-imposed taxes business regulations. In 1775, Hamilton enlisted in the army and fought battles in Long Island, White Plans, and Trenton. He eventually would become a lawyer and be Washington’s secretary of treasury, where America was flooded with debt from the American Revolution.
Alexander Hamilton was laid to rest in the Trinity Churchyard of Lower Manhattan, New York City, along with statesmen and veterans.
Johnny Ramone
Emerging as an international movement during 1975-1980, punk is somewhat more of a combative form of rock music blanketed by sarcasm and hostility. One of the icons of this aesthetic generation was the Ramones’ Johnny Ramone. Born as John Cummings, he was credited as one of punk rock’s early guitar legends. In the early ‘70s, he brought his first guitar and formed a band together with his friends. It was this time that the Ramones was personified. Their albums include Sire, Leave Home, Rocket to Russia, and Road to Ruin, among others. The band was often remembered for their explosive shows and their overlapping energy playing 30 songs for every set. The group eventually broke up during the mid-’90s, but their influence in the music scene was immense.
Johnny’s resting place has been erected with an eight-foot statue of himself with a guitar sitting on his gravestone in Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles.
John Lennon
John Lennon was often associated with Paul McCartney in the ‘50s, where they started The Beatles. They both complement each other’s skills, and they formed the most successful partnership in the history of music. They were inspired by Buddy Holly’s group, the Crickets, and claimed the name The Beatles—yup, beetles with an “A.” The band was discovered in 1961 at a Club in Liverpool. They eventually released their first single, Love Me do, which secured the 17th spot in British charts. Having played more gigs since then, The Beatles earned the title as the most popular band in Britain while releasing chart-smashing hits such as She Loves You and I Want To Hold Your Hand. In 1964, the Beatles were the first British band to have attained a degree of success in the United States.
Lennon had a unique ceremony; his ashes found their way home in an area in Central Park that was labeled as Strawberry Fields, a title of one of his songs.
Freddie Mercury
Born as Farrokh Bulsara, Freddie Mercury was a phenomenal singer-songwriter who hadn’t only topped U.S. charts but also Great Britain’s. Being a frontman of Queen, Mercury was an exceptional performer in the rock era. His roots in music began to take hold in a boarding school in India, where he started to learn to play the piano. He is often credited for his buck-toothed grin. The Queen frontman had four extra teeth behind his molars. However, he did not have this fixed in fear of losing his high vocal range. Teeth aside, Mercury was known to be a performer as he had a way of holding the audience’s attention and connecting with them. He liked to wear vibrant skin-tight spandex during his shows and made his way around the stage, compelling the fans to vibe with him.
There is only one person in the world who knows where his ashes are, Mary Austin, Freddie’s former partner. However, a statue of Freddie Mercury is erected in Montreux, Switzerland, with a view of Lake Geneva.
James Dean
Born as James Byron Dean, the famous James Dean became an icon for his generation (and for decades more) by starring as a rebellious, emotion-stricken teen in Rebel Without a Cause. The actor also starred in the film adaptation of Steinbeck’s East of Eden, where he was credited with a posthumous Oscar nomination. Dean’s first TV appearance was in a Pepsi commercial, which subsequently led him to star in Fixed Bayonets! and Sailor Beware. The star got Hollywood’s attention when he was cast in The Immoralist. This milestone eventually cascaded and got him a role in East of Eden, where most of his scenes were unscripted improvisations. When he was not acting, he was a professional racer. On his way to a race in California with his mechanic, Dean and Wuetherich collided with another car, which led to the famous actor’s untimely demise.
Dean is buried under a simple gravestone inscribed with his name and important dates. It is filled with lipstick kiss-marks that came from fans.
Sacagawea
Sacagawea was a female prisoner of the past, the daughter of her chief’s tribe, and became a wife at the age of 12 when she was sold to a French-Canadian trapped upon being kidnapped by the opposing tribe. Sacagawea was invited to be an interpreter on Lewis and Clark’s big quest. As some scholars have stated, Sacagawea was born in 1786, and her name literally translates to “boat puller.” She is credited with being the only woman on Lewis and Clark’s journey into West America. The aim of the Lewis and Clark Expedition was to map the newly discovered lands and navigate the route to the Pacific Ocean. Details of her life were a bit vague once the expedition came to an end.
In Wyoming’s Wind River reservation, there stands a marker which is inscribed with her name and bits of detail from her life. It is not known if she is actually buried there.
Herman Melville
Herman Melville is one of America’s most recognized authors known for writing Moby-Dick and other adventure novels. Melville is an author who previously worked as a crew member on vessels in 1839. His experience as a sailor gave birth to his early novels such as Typee and Omoo. After 20 years, the novelist sought refuge in poetry and was recognized as one of the greats posthumously. It is worth noting that he was credited for writing Moby-Dick, his magnum opus, which was based on real-life events aboard whaleships and the disasters that once struck him. Melville encountered storms, lack of potable water, sickness, and food deprivation. This was perhaps the richness that filled his novels with awe.
The novelist and poet was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in New York. His grave comes in the form of a scroll, and he is situated beside his wife, Elizabeth.
John Keats
John Keats was undoubtedly one of the most famous and treasured poets in Great Britain. Interestingly, this renowned writer not only doesn’t have a grave or a tombstone in the United Kingdom, but the stone also does not bear his name. Keats once relocated to Rome with hopes that a warmer climate would help improve his failing health. However, it didn’t help at all, and he passed away at the tender age of 25.
Before he passed, Keats also remarked that the critics didn’t give him the credit he deserved. Furthermore, he also believed what the critics said about his work and that it wasn’t worth the time he had given it. For this specific reason, Keats insisted that his tombstone not have his name written on it. Instead, his tomb has the inscription “Here lies One Whose Name was writ in Water.” It’s a phrase that means “won’t come true” or “nothing.”
Abraham Lincoln
One can argue that Abraham Lincoln was one of the most influential presidents in the history of the United States of America. He was the sixteenth President, and he managed to become one from a humble childhood. Not only did Lincoln became President, but he’s managed to take credit as one of the greatest presidents ever. His final resting place is located in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois, next to his wife and four children.
It’s only right that Lincoln’s tomb looks incredibly grand. After all, it should be just right to honor one of the greatest men in the history of the country. Furthermore, a bronze sculpture or bust of his head is located at the entrance of the tomb. Finally, an interesting tradition for visitors is that they would often rub its nose for some good luck.
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. He was also a successful polymath, scientist, inventor, diplomat, and freemason. Franklin also received credit for helping draft the United States Constitution as well as the Declaration of Independence. One could argue that the United States wouldn’t be as great of a country if it weren’t for Franklin’s efforts.
Despite a storied life filled with accomplishments across different fields, the friends and family of Franklin decided to keep his tombstone simple. He’s final resting place is at the Christ Church Burial Ground in the State of Pennsylvania. Interestingly, one of his most memorable statements was, “A penny saved is a penny earned.” Visitors to his tomb usually spend a penny to honor him, and management has politely asked visitors to stop the tradition, as it can cause damage to the tombstone.
George Washington
George Washington is one of the US historical figures that almost everyone on a world-scale certainly remembers. Washington was able to defeat the English, and he helped create America. Moreover, he was also the first President of the United States of America, and he set the stage for democracy and its representative republics. Washington’s final resting place is located at the Washington Family Tomb at Mount Vernon, Virginia.
The reason behind in having his final resting place at Mount Vernon, Virginia, was because he lived in the area after his presidential term. Washington’s tomb features grave markers outside of the tomb for his brother, John Augustine Washington. The markers also serve significance to his nephew, Bushrod Washington. The structure of the entire Washington tomb is made out of brick, and the degree of simplicity looks perfect for the first president of the United States.
Thomas Edison
Everyone knows that Thomas Edison received a number of credits for inventing hundreds of things. Edison lived all the way until the age of 84, and he passed away back in 1931. You could say that he was able to catch a brief glimpse of how his inventions played an integral role in various world-changing developments. Edison’s final resting place is in West Orange, New Jersey, alongside his wife.
Edison’s tomb in West Orange is entirely humble and simple. The only inscriptions that you’ll see on the tomb are his birth date and the date of his passing. Interestingly, his tomb is not the only place where one can visit the late inventor’s final resting place. There’s a test tube in Detroit’s Henry Ford Museum that contains Edison’s last breath, which was collected by his son, Charles, during his final moments.
Anna Nicole Smith
Anna Nicole Smith was one of the most popular models in Hollywood during the ‘80s and ‘90s. You could say that she never did anything small, as she managed to venture out into acting. Besides her successful modeling career, Smith holds acting credits in films like To The Limit, Skyscraper, The Hudsucker Proxy, and many more. She always found herself in tabloids up to the day that she passed and beyond.
Smith’s final resting place is located in Lakeview Memorial Gardens in Nassau, Bahamas. Her fans will certainly have to book a trip to the Bahamas if they’d want to catch a glimpse of the famous model’s grave. Smith was always known for her sunny and energetic personality, and it is quite fitting that her final resting place is in a perpetually sunny location like the Bahamas. Today, fans and visitors make it a point to cover her tombstone in flowers whenever they stop by.
Jane Austen
Jane Austen was undoubtedly one of the best authors of all time, and she’s known for creating enduring pieces of work such as “Pride and Prejudice.” Her gravestone is also one of the most traveled destinations in Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire, England. Interestingly, those who visit her tombstone are often surprised to find that it doesn’t mention her previous writings or works.
An interesting fact about Austen and her works is that her identity as a writer was often kept as a secret. The reason for this fact was that the books published were written by “A Lady.” However, in the year 1870, Jane’s nephew commissioned a bronze plaque to be placed in the famous cathedral to honor and acknowledge her exceptional body of work. So, you could say that Austen finally got the credit she deserved both as an author and writer.
Mel Blanc
Mel Blanc was an incredibly successful voice actor and radio personality. She is best known for his voiceover work in animation as the voice of well-known cartoon characters such as Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, and Porky Pig. He’s also the voice behind other characters from the Looney Tunes and other theatrical cartoons during America’s golden age of animation. Blanc is widely regarded as one of the influential figures in voice acting, and he received credit as “The Man of a Thousand Voices.”
Before he passed away in July of 1989, Blanc stated in his will that he wants to have a unique inscription on his gravestone. Fittingly, the inscription on his grave reads “That’s All Folks,” which was the catchphrase of Blanc’s character, Porky Pig. He is interred in section 13, Pinewood section of Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Rodney Dangerfield
Jack Roy, also known by his stage name Rodney Dangerfield, was a famous stand-up comedian, actor, screenwriter, producer, and author. He was best known for his one-liners and often self-deprecating humor. Some of his most memorable catchphrases and punchlines involved “I don’t get no respect!” and the various monologues on that theme. Without a doubt, Dangerfield was one of the most important pioneers of comedy.
Dangerfield passed away in 2004, and he managed to get one more laugh out of his fans in the process. Obviously, the famous comedian couldn’t go out quietly and without a laugh. He stated in his will that he wants the phrase “There goes the neighborhood” on his tombstone. You could certainly assume that it was another play from his well-known catchphrase. He certainly deserves a ton of credit for putting a comedic take on his passing.
Leslie Nielsen
Leslie Nielsen was a famous comedian, actor, and producer who was able to enjoy a long-running career in Hollywood that spanned over 60 years. Furthermore, he holds over 100 acting credits in films and appeared in over 150 television programs. He portrayed more than 220 characters, which is a true testament to his passion and knack for acting and comedy. He’s also received several awards, including being inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Nielsen passed away back in 2010, and the funny man certainly couldn’t resist one last joke. His gravestone has the inscription “Let’ er rip.” He loved gags about whoopee cushions, and he once promised in a 1996 interview that the punchline would be his epitaph. Without a doubt, he stayed true to his word and inscribed it on his tombstone. Nielsen has always been known for his impeccable comedic timing.
Jesse James
Jesse James was a well-known American outlaw, robber, and leader of the James-Younger Gang. He is one of the most iconic figures of the 1800s, and he joined the pro-Confederate guerillas known as “bushwhackers,” which operated in Missouri and Kansas. Despite popular portrayals that credit him as the Wild West’s Robin Hood, there isn’t any concrete evidence that he shared his loot with the poor or anyone close to him. As he was an outlaw, he was brought to justice, and he passed away in 1882.
Upon his passing, James’s body was originally buried on the James family farm. In 1902, his supposed remains were transferred to Mount Olivet Cemetery located in Kearney, Missouri. The gravestone is quite plain given his reputation when he was alive. It had the inscriptions of his name, birth date, and the date of his passing.