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Hollywood Cemetery gates are open every day, 8 am to 5 pm. The on-site records office is open weekdays only, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Opened in 1849, Hollywood Cemetery is a large and sprawling cemetery designed in the rural garden style, characterized by rolling hills and winding paths overlooking the James River, with its name Hollywood coming from the holly trees dotting the hills of the property. It is the resting place of two United States Presidents, James Monroe and John Tyler, as well as the only Confederate States President, Jefferson Davis. It is also the resting place of 25 Confederate Generals, more than any other cemetery in the country, including George Pickett and J.E.B. Stuart. In 1869 a 90-foot high granite pyramid was built as a memorial to the more than 18,000 enlisted men of the Confederate Army buried in the cemetery, often characterized as the Confederate National Cemetery. Rich in history, there are many local legends surrounding certain tombs and grave sites in the cemetery.
The land that Hollywood Cemetery currently stands on was once part of William Byrd III's estate. Later, it was owned by the Harvie family and was known as "Harvie's Woods."
In the late 1840s, William Haxall and Joshua Fry hired John Notman (architect of Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia) to design the cemetery in the rural garden style. Its name, "Hollywood," came from the holly trees dotting the hills of the property. Oliver Baldwin delivered the dedication address in 1849.
James Monroe was reinterred from New York City to the "President's Circle" section of Hollywood cemetery on July 4, 1858 due to the efforts of Governor Henry A. Wise.
In 1869, a 90-foot (27 m) high granite pyramid was built as a memorial to the more than 18,000 enlisted men of the Confederate Army buried in the cemetery.
In 1890, a chapel was constructed next to the entrance of the cemetery. This chapel now serves as the cemetery office. In 1915, the original entrance was closed and the present one was opened to better facilitate cars.
Hollywood Cemetery is one of Richmond's major tourist attractions. There are many local legends surrounding certain tombs and grave sites in the cemetery, including one about a little girl and the black iron statue of a dog standing watch over her grave. Other notable legends rely on ghosts haunting the many mausoleums. One of the most well-known of these is the legend of the Richmond Vampire.
A place rich in history, legend, and gothic landscape, Hollywood Cemetery is also frequented by many of the local students attending Virginia Commonwealth University.
There are two very good histories of Hollywood Cemetery:
John O. Peters, Richmond's Hollywood Cemetery (2010). Mary H. Mitchell, Hollywood Cemetery (1999).
Hollywood Cemetery is a large, sprawling cemetery located next to Richmond, Virginia's Oregon Hill neighborhood at 412 South Cherry Street. Characterized by rolling hills and winding paths overlooking the James River, it is the resting place of two United States Presidents, James Monroe and John Tyler, as well as the only Confederate States President, Jefferson Davis. It is also the resting place of 28 Confederate generals, more than any other cemetery in the country; these include George Pickett and J.E.B. Stuart
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_Cemetery_(Richmond,_Virginia)]