Bellefontaine Cemetery

Beautiful leaf walk Bellefontaine Cemetery! We learned a ton of things. 🍁

Urban Chestnut got their logo from the horse chestnut tree 🌰

Washu‘s founder is located in the Bellefontaine Cemetery 🎓
We found Thornton Grimsley who named Grimsley’s Folly which is now Lafayette Square park 💡

Amazing place to stroll and sightsee. Whether you like nature, history, architecture, or just like contemplating life and death, this place has something for you.

My husband and I spent a perfectly LOVELY afternoon in Bellefontaine Cemetery recently; in all our visits to St Louis, we'd never been there. I'm so glad we finally made the time to see it!

The cemetery is impeccably cared for. Brian is one of the groundskeepers, and was immensely helpful to us during our visit. He guided us to a few sites that weren't specifically listed on the map, and was very friendly and welcoming. Many thanks to Brian for his guidance, his hospitality, and for opening the waiting room so that we could use the facilities there.

It's really a beautiful cemetery. The map does a nice job of leading you through the grounds, pointing out all the most interesting gravesites (e.g., The Girl in the Shadow Box, the Lemp family tomb, William Clark's grave). One of the loveliest areas is the Wildwood Valley, with two lakes joined by a stream lined with gorgeous wildflowers. At the top of the farthest lake is a lovely outdoor chapel with a lion sculpture. Simply gorgeous view!

The cemetery has multiple paths, so a map is absolutely necessary. But it's easy to drive, and you can pause along the way at multiple points to admire the lovely funereal sculptures of a time gone by.

If you have a couple of hours to spare while you're in St Louis, Bellefontaine Cemetery is definitely worth your time. Enjoy your visit!

P.S.-- My girlfriends and I returned for a visit last month, and it was still the beautiful, idyllic place I remembered. Such a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours!

The only regret I had was not being able to read the stories on every gravestone in the Bellefontaine Cemetery. The cemetery is very well maintained and the most beautiful cemetery I've ever been! I can't wait to come visit again.

I had the honor of visiting William Clark's gravesite on the 198th anniversary of his death. The gravesite is impressive with engravings about the Corps of Discovery and Clark's life post his travels west. Clark family members are also buried at this site.