City Cemetery

City Cemetery is a burial ground in Raleigh that spans multiple acres with organized sections reflecting the city's social divisions of past centuries. The grounds contain stone monuments, marble headstones, and varied grave markers arranged throughout landscaped areas.

Founded in 1798, the cemetery became the principal burial place for Raleigh's leading figures, including governors and mayors who shaped the city. It grew and evolved as the capital expanded over successive decades.

The gravestones tell stories through their designs and inscriptions, showing how Raleigh's residents expressed their values and remembered loved ones. You can observe changes in memorial styles that mark shifts in local customs over time.

The grounds are open during daylight hours, allowing you to walk among the monuments and read the inscriptions at your own pace. Information about specific burials and residents can be obtained through local archival resources.

Some graves display unusual professional symbols and emblems that indicate the occupations of those buried there. These markings offer unexpected glimpses into the work lives and standing of early Raleigh residents.

Location: North Carolina

Location: Wake County

Location: Raleigh

Inception: 1798

GPS coordinates: 35.77920,-78.63080

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:43