Bonaventure Cemetery

Bonaventure Cemetery at 330 Bonaventure Rd in East Savannah, Georgia, is a historic garden cemetery occupying approximately 160 acres along the eastern bank of the Wilmington River. Established in 1846 on the grounds of a former plantation, it is widely regarded as one of the most atmospheric burial grounds in the United States, distinguished by its canopy of ancient live oak trees draped with Spanish moss, its dense assemblage of Victorian funerary sculpture, and its peaceful riverside setting.

The cemetery gained broad national attention following the publication of John Berendt's 1994 book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and the subsequent 1997 film. The image that became iconic from both the book and its cover — the Bird Girl statue by sculptor Sylvia Shaw Judson, photographed in the cemetery — drew such visitor traffic that the original statue was moved to the Telfair Academy museum in downtown Savannah in 1997 for protection. A replica marks the original plot.

Walking the main avenues — particularly Avenue of the Oaks — provides the most rewarding experience, with the towering trees creating cathedral-like enclosures above the graves. Notable burials include poet Conrad Aiken, whose bench-tomb inscription reads Cosmos Mariner, Destination Unknown, and Johnny Mercer, the lyricist and composer behind Moon River, whose grave regularly accumulates pennies left by fans. The cemetery is also a birding destination, with herons, egrets, painted buntings, and other species using the mature tree canopy year-round.

Self-guided audio tours are available from local operators including Cobblestone Tours and Savannah Dan, providing context for the sculpture and notable graves. No admission is charged. Photography is unrestricted. Weekday visits offer the most solitary experience; weekend evenings draw ghost tour groups. There is no direct bus service from the Historic District.