Most of us make regular visits to grave sites of loved ones we've lost. However, for many people, their list of loved ones extends to celebrities and other public figures, whom they've never actually met. Below we've listed some of the most visited grave sites in America. They're not listed in any particular order because it's difficult to determine exactly how many people visit each grave on an annual basis.
President John F. Kennedy - Arlington National Cemetery - Arlington, VA
The day President John F. Kennedy's assassination, the New York Times announced, "The president was expected to be buried at the Kennedy family plot in Holyhood Cemetery, near Brookline, Mass. He is a native of Boston." However, Jacqueline Kennedy, the President's widow, arranged to have him buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Her wishes were stated simply, "He belongs to the people." On May 23, 1994, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis was buried next to President Kennedy.
Michael Jackson - Forrest Lawn Cemetery - Glendale, CA
The King of Pop is buried in the Holly Terrace section of The Great Mausoleum in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California. Forest Lawn is the final resting place of many Hollywood celebrities, and attract well over a million visitors each year. The Holly Terrace section is private and off-limits to the public, but thousands come each day to leave flowers just outside.
Elvis Presley - Graceland - Memphis, TN
When the King died in August of 1977, he was interned in a mausoleum in Forest Hills Cemetery in Memphis, TN next to his mother, Gladys. However, fans and souvenir seekers often tampered with his grave, so Elvis and his mother were moved to their current resting place at Graceland. More than 600,000 visitors still come to Graceland each year.
Frank Sinatra - Palm Springs, CA
Ol' Blue Eyes is buried at Desert Memorial Park in Palm Springs, CA. He was buried with a bottle of Jack Daniels and a pack of Camel cigarettes in his suit pockets. After all, you don't want to head to the afterlife without the basic necessities. Sinatra's final resting place is also home to the graves of Sonny Bono, and songwriter, Jimmy Van Heusen (who wrote several of Sinatra's most famous songs). The inscription on his gravestone reads, "The best is yet to come."
Bruce Lee - Seattle, WA
Bruce Lee and his son, Brandon , are buried side by side at Lakeview Cemetery in Seattle, WA. The KungFu star died unexpectedly at age 32, just weeks before the release of his hit movie Enter the Dragon. Though the official cause of death was an allergic reaction to aspirin, rumors persist that he died as a result of an evil curse.
Johnny Cash - Hendersonville, TN
The Man in Black passed away on September 12th, 2003 from diabetes. He's buried next to his wife, June Carter Cash at the Hendersonville Memory Garden in Henderson, TN, which is just outside of Nashville. June passed away just months before Johhny. The Cash grave site attracts nearly as many visitors each year as Graceland.
Marilyn Monroe - Westwood Village Memorial Park - Westwood, CA
Like Michael Jackson, the blonde bombshell is interned near many other Hollywood stars, which makes access to her grave site difficult. Other graves found in this small cemetery include the likes of Natalie Wood, Dean Martin, Roy Orbison, Carroll O'Connor, Don Knotts, Walter Matthau, Jack Lemmon, Truman Capote, Burt Lancaster, George C. Scott, and Eva Gabor. Needless to say, it attracts throngs of visitors.
If you visit any of these famous sites, please remember to be courteous and respectful. While all of these people seemed larger than life, they're all somebody's loved one. If you're curious about the graves of other celebrities, you can find more information on www.findagrave.com...and don't forget to bring memorial flowers from Graveside Flowers!