Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Florida Key West Key West Cemetery

Key West Cemetery

The island residents are known for taking their quirky sense of humor with them to the grave.

Key West, Florida

Added By
Joshua Ginsberg
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
B. P. Roberts’ tombstone.   J Ginsberg / Atlas Obscura User
Key West Cemetery.   Averette/CC BY 3.0
Key West Cemetery Historical Marker.   J Ginsberg / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
Top of the USS Maine Monument.   J Ginsberg / Atlas Obscura User
Angel statue.   J Ginsberg / Atlas Obscura User
A large iguana sunning itself on a tombstone.   J Ginsberg / Atlas Obscura User
Conch statue.   J Ginsberg / Atlas Obscura User
Close up of Angel with broken wings   carlitosftl / Atlas Obscura User
Angel with broken wings   carlitosftl / Atlas Obscura User
🪦   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

It’s estimated that as many as 100,000 people have been lain to rest in the 19-acre Key West Cemetery, more than three times the number of living residents in the island city. The cemetery was established in 1847 after a hurricane washed bodies out from their previous location, and many of the graves are above ground (similar to New Orleans) due to the high water table. Today, though, the cemetery is best known for its many unusual gravestones.

Perhaps most recognized among the tombstones is that of local hypochondriac B.P. “Pearl” Roberts, which reads “I told you I was sick.” Literary references abound as well, with one tombstone reading “So Long and Thanks For All The Fish,” a reference to Douglas Adams's book of the same name. Another reads “GROK – Look It Up,” from Robert Heinlein’s novel Stranger in a Strange Land.

Other notable one-liners include “Jesus Christ, These People Are Horrible,” “I’m Just Resting My Eyes,” “Devoted Fan of Singer Julio Iglesias,” “If You’re Reading This, You Desperately Need A Hobby,” and “I Always Dreamed Of Owning A Small Place In Key West.”

There’s much more to the cemetery than just punchline epitaphs and conch-shaped tombstones. Key West is the final resting place of “Sloppy” Joe Russell, a well known local bar owner and fishing guide for Ernest Hemingway, as well as “general” Abe Sawyer, a famous little person who requested to be buried in the grave of a full-sized man. There are many Civil War and Spanish-American War graves, a section for Cuban freedom fighters, and a monument to the 260 sailors killed in 1898, when the USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor.  Near the USS Maine memorial are the graves of two British Royal Navy Officers. Sadly, they were on leave and died in an automobile accident. Because of the heat, they were interred in temporary graves. Because they weren’t on duty, it was up to their families to pay for transportation. Alas, they couldn’t afford it.

There’s also a twisted—and true—tale of Count Carl Von Cosel, who stole and preserved the body of Elena Milagro Hoyos from the cemetery. The Count, using a combination of beeswax, silk, and makeup, was able to preserve the body, kept in a wedding dress in his bed for seven years. When the woman’s horrified and outraged family learned of it, they had Elena’s body re-interred in a secret spot where Von Cosel couldn’t find it again.

While exploring the cemetery, don’t be startled if you hear a rustling coming from just out of sight. The entire island is overrun with feral chickens, and a great many large iguanas also call the cemetery home, often sunning themselves on the stone markers during the day.

Related Tags

Cemeteries Death Graveyards Gravestones Graves

Know Before You Go

The Historic Florida Keys Foundation offers walking tours of the cemetery twice a week for a fee.

Community Contributors

Added By

J Ginsberg

Edited By

erjeffery, jimfbow, Michael Inscoe, Collector of Experiences...

  • erjeffery
  • jimfbow
  • Michael Inscoe
  • Collector of Experiences
  • carlitosftl
  • Jason Michael Walker

Published

January 4, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.keywesttravelguide.com/key-west-cemetery-map-self-guided-tour/
Key West Cemetery
701 Pauline St
Key West, Florida
United States
24.556257, -81.795273
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Joseph 'Bum' Farto's Desk

Key West, Florida

miles away

Nancy Forrester's Secret Garden

Key West, Florida

miles away

Tennessee Williams Museum

Key West, Florida

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Key West

Key West

Florida

Places 23
Stories 5

Nearby Places

Joseph 'Bum' Farto's Desk

Key West, Florida

miles away

Nancy Forrester's Secret Garden

Key West, Florida

miles away

Tennessee Williams Museum

Key West, Florida

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Key West

Key West

Florida

Places 23
Stories 5

Related Places

  • Framingham, Massachusetts

    Graves of John Cloyce & Abraham Rice

    In 1777, two men were killed after being struck by lightning at the same time.

  • Aguascalientes, Mexico

    Los Ángeles and La Cruz Graveyards

    Legends, sculptures, and unique tombs can be seen lurking in these connected cemeteries.

  • Victoria, British Columbia

    Ross Bay Cemetery

    This stately Victorian-era burial ground overlooking the Pacific Ocean is home to the graves of some of British Columbia's most famous figures.

  • The backside of the grave, which features the fudge recipe.

    Logan, Utah

    'Kay's Fudge' Gravestone

    Kay Andrews's recipe was so good, her family immortalized it in stone.

  • Two foam-green crypts with planters.

    Oaxaca, Mexico

    Panteón General (General Cemetery)

    This graveyard boasts a medley of diverse and imaginative funeral architecture.

  • The grave of Florence Irene Ford.

    Natchez, Mississippi

    Grave of Florence Irene Ford

    Florence’s mother built a stairway down to her daughter’s coffin so she could comfort her during storms.

  • Szatmárcseke Calvinist Cemetery.

    Szatmárcseke, Hungary

    Szatmárcseke Calvinist Cemetery

    Hundreds of boat-shaped headstones fill this graveyard as part of a centuries-old custom with mysterious origins.

  • Grave of the unidentified S.S. Valencia victims.

    Seattle, Washington

    Mount Pleasant Cemetery

    This graveyard contains markers and monuments dedicated to some of the darkest chapters in Washington's history.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.