The McDonoghville Cemetery, originally known as the McDonogh Cemetery, is located on the site of the old John McDonogh plantation in McDonoghville, most of which is now a part of the city of Gretna, LA. The cemetery entrance is at 520 Hancock Street, Gretna, but the site is actually partly in the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans, LA. The Orleans-Jefferson Parish line runs diagonally through nearly the center of the cemetery. The City of Gretna now oversees the entire facility. Philanthropist John McDonogh had his own tomb constructed there, surrounded by a heavy-duty wrought iron fence. Upon his death in 1850, McDonogh was entombed there, but ten years later his remains were transferred to his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, per the directions in his will.

Although his tomb was empty, it is said that it was cared for by Edward Thornton. An unconfirmed rumor is that upon Thornton’s death, he was interred in McDonogh’s tomb.

There are several types of burial sites in the McDonoghville Cemetery, including elaborate tombs, copings, box tombs, slabs, ledger stones, and ground burials. Some are well marked, others have broken or illegible headstones, and yet others have no markings at all. Mausoleums have been erected in the rear of the cemetery, and many are interred therein. In addition, some older gravesites in the front section have been converted to mausoleums, such as the large Sutherland Mausoleum located on the entrance driveway.

The McDonoghville Cemetery holds the remains of well over 7,000 individuals.

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