With ICCFA just around the corner, you may be wondering what you can do in Charlotte while you aren’t attending the show. If you want to stay in the funeral spirit, we have some death care related attractions that you can check out during your stay.
Old Settlers’ Cemetery
Old Settlers’ Cemetery was the first municipal cemetery in Charlotte. Although it was designated as a cemetery in 1815, it has graves dating all the way back to 1776. The site is home to graves of Civil War and Revolutionary War veterans, as well as the founders of Charlotte and Mecklenburg.
If you’re looking for significant graves, you can check the map at the entrance, or just wander through the crumbling grave markers.
Historic Hovis Funeral Home
On Charlotte’s historic Tyron Street, sits one of Charlotte’s first funeral homes. The Hovis Funeral Home was completed in 1925 and was designed by Charlotte architect William Peeps. Peeps drew his style from Gothic Revival architecture, which gives the building a unique and somber look.
The building now serves as office space, but if you’re into historic funeral home architecture, it makes for a great photo opportunity.
Hilton Sisters’ Grave
Daisy and Violet Hilton were born joined at the hip in Brighton England in 1908. They were sold to Mary Hilton who immediately put them on display. They spent the majority of their young lives performing in the vaudeville circuit until they sued for their freedom in 1931. They remained in the entertainment industry for the rest of their lives, but finally on their own terms.
The twins died in 1969 from the Hong Kong flu and are laid to rest in the Forest Lawn, West Cemetery in Charlotte. An unassuming headstone that is shared with a close family friend marks their place. You’d have no idea that the women buried beneath the headstone were stars of early American Vaudville entertainment.
Town Creek Indian Mound
If you are interested in pre-Colombian burial practices, the Town Creek Indian Mound Historic Site will fascinate you. The mound was discovered in the Pee Dee River Valley in 1937 and for over 50 years archaeologists have been finding artifacts and structures that belonged to the Pee Dee Indian Tribe dating as far back as the 11th century.
You can learn about the death rituals of the Pee Dee Tribe when you visit the restored burial house and mortuary structures. The visitor center is free and has self-guided tours around the mound and rebuilt structures, as well as interpretive exhibits and audiovisual programs.
Whether you visit all four or just one of these attractions, we hope that you enjoy your time in the beautiful city of Charlotte, North Carolina. What do you think about death care sightseeing? Leave a comment or find us at ICCFA in booth #1512.
