About Us

Old City Cemetery (OCC), established in 1806, is one of the oldest public cemeteries in the U.S. that has been in continuous use since its founding. The 27 acres of cemetery grounds today are owned by the City of Lynchburg, VA, and Old City Cemetery Museums and Arboretum is managed and operated by the Southern Memorial Association nonprofit that incorporated in 2005. Old City Cemetery is recognized as a Virginia Historic Landmark on the National Register of Historic Places and as an Arboretum – Level II on the internationally known www.ArbNet.com.
Nearly 20,000 people are buried at OCC, most before 1925. These include: political, religious, social and cultural leaders, the city’s indigent and “strangers,” veterans of every major American war and conflict from the Revolution to Iraq War, and over 2,200 Confederate soldiers. Two-thirds of those buried at OCC are African American. OCC grounds are open daily and our Cemetery Center Museum is open Mon-Sat., 10am -5pm & Sun., 1-5pm
Major Events each year Spring: May Rose Festival Summer: Juneteenth Celebration, Open House Fall: Annual Candlelight Tours - Main Fundraiser of the year Winter: Wreath Across America wreath laying ceremony We'd appreciate your support for these and our many other events throughout the year.