The Mound Cemetery

I had read something about this but didn’t think we’d have time to go; then we ended up parking right beside it for a basketball game at the college. After the game, just at sunset, we walked back and decided to go in. I’ve always had a thing for mounds, perhaps starting from visiting Mound City and Serpent Mound as a kid.
I wish it had been a bit more light so we could read the tombstones, but there are clearly some pretty old ones here. The cemetery surrounds the mound, and sits in a residential neighborhood with a low fence. You can only enter at two points, which made for a bit of a walk in the cold. We climbed to the top of the mound where there are a few benches and a nice view. It’s cool that this (presumably funerary) mound is preserved, and surrounded by, well, an appropriate companion.
A nice little cap to our Marietta visit. We’ll have to get back sometime.

Marietta is a charming river town. So why go to a cemetery? Best I can say is it’s like a piece of history really. And in Marietta, the entire town is rich with history from the Indians and America during the pre– and post-​Revolutionary War. You can’t throw a stick without hitting a street named after one of Washington’s generals, and many soldiers settled here with free land in lieu of pay from General Washington’s army.
The mound is a big hill built by the Indians. After driving down bumpy cobblestone roads lined with homes that look like Martha Washington might come out onto the porch at any minute, you come upon the Mound Cemetery, nestled among the homes looking quite like it belongs there is the Mound Cemetery, bordered with an ancient looking wrought iron gate that at once says both KEEP OUT and «welcome.» Odd that.
Climbing the stairs to summit the Mound is part of your initiation to the Marietta culture. The stairs are steep, which adds to the allure. Once atop, the scene is one of history, art, tranquility, and … Marietta. Other than lounging in the Gun Room at The Lafayette downtown, it doesn’t get much more Marietta than this.

Cool cemetery with prehistoric earthwork/​mound as the focal point. Surprisingly a couple stories tall and surrounded by a ditch (sort of like a primitive moat). There’s a staircase and a bench or two at the top. Cool archaeological site accessible to the public. Amazing to think of the ancient Americans as constructing this site when you see the volume of soil that would have to be moved. It’s no Stonehenge or great pyramid, but still impressive.

When attending college in a small river boat city — it’s hard to find fun things to do that don’t involve drinking, fast food, or Walmart. Luckily, my friends and I were always open to casual walks around the city whether it be down to the river levee or sometimes up to The Mound Cemetery.
Now some of you may know, I have an irrational fear of zombies… so it took a lot of effort and hand holding for my friends to get me up to this historic cemetery late at night (trespassing after dark — we’re totes rebels).
The Native Americans of this area built this 30 foot mound as a burial place for chieftains and it was later discovered by the revolutionary pioneers. These pioneers were later buried around the mound and it is the resting place of many revolutionary soldiers.
The mound rises in the middle of the graveyard and is surrounded by gravestones, statues, and trees. It’s an amazing sight and a creepy one at night. Stairs lead to the top of the mound where there are stone blocks laid down for visitors to stand and witness history.
One of my LEAST favorite memories of this mound was the one night my friends brought me up to the top… pushed me over… and RAN. They RAN SO FAST down the steep stairs and ended up hiding behind the above mentioned graves, trees, and statues. The then twenty-​one year old Jeffrey found himself screaming and crying alone in a graveyard… waiting. For what? Why Revolutionary zombies and dead Indians riding ghost horses to attack him of course. Eventually my friends were afraid I’d wake the neighborhood with my shouting and came to my rescue — those bastards.
Despite the traumatic experience, I still love visiting this place. It’s a part of the history of our country from Native American to Pioneer exploration. Here rests the people who originally lived here as well as those who built this nation. If you’re ever in the area, it is a must see.
Beware of zombies and ghost horses.