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Riverside Cemetery in Asheville, North Carolina is a beautiful and historic burial ground that serves as a reminder of the area’s colorful history. Located on Riverside Drive, close to the banks of the French Broad River, it is one of the largest cemeteries in the city and has been open since 1885. Its sprawling grounds are home to more than 20,000 graves and feature monuments, sculptures, mausoleums and other memorials.

The cemetery contains many notable gravesites including those of Zebulon Baird Vance - governor of North Carolina; Thomas Wolfe - author; Oteen Bank Building - first bank building in Asheville; John T. Emory - mayor of Asheville; Rebecca A. Campbell - founder of Riverside Cemetery; and William W. Stringfield – U.S. Congressman from Buncombe County. The oldest grave dates back to 1825, although the majority were buried after 1912 when the cemetery was officially devoted for public use.

Riverside Cemetery is unique for its variety of grave markers and monuments that reflect both old-fashioned traditions and modern-day trends in death care practices. The headstones are made from various materials such as granite, marble and limestone while there are also ground markers placed throughout that bear inscriptions such as “In Memory Of” or “Loved Ones Rest Here” in multiple languages including English, Spanish and Hebrew. Other popular features at Riverside Cemetery are two large bronze statues honoring veterans who served during World War I as well as a section dedicated to veteran burials which includes a flagpole flying an American flag 24/7 in tribute to their service.

The cemetery itself is beautifully landscaped with trees providing shade along winding paths lined with blooming flowers which give visitors an opportunity to escape from their busy lives for a peaceful stroll through the grounds or even take part in community events held at Riverside such as Music & Memories Festival or Planting Memories Day where volunteers help restore old grave sites by planting flowers around them.

With its picturesque grounds displaying many grand memorials alongside simple yet meaningful markers honoring loved ones who have passed away, Riverside Cemetery serves as an oasis of peace surrounded by nature's beauty that reflects not only Asheville's rich past but also its present day vitality.