Grave Hunting and the Art of the Cemetery

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to visitcemetery in Glendale California. Here the founder, Dr.
dozens of cemeteries in and around the Los AngelesEaton, makes the cemetery into a living museum
area. One thing I have discovered is the vastwith every part of the park created to include
collection of phenomenal artwork included within thereplicas of some of the most recognizable artwork in
grounds. From simple statuary to a full scalethe world.
reproduction of the last supper in stained glass, thereAs I toured the graves, I came upon a life size
is so much more to see while grave hunting than justreplica of the statue of David by Michael Angelo by
the graves of the famous.the side of the road. I pulled over to take a closer
My first experience was during a grave huntinglook and found this white marble statue perfect in
adventure to Hollywood Forever cemetery when Ievery detail. As I entered the small garden to the
stepped into the darkened mausoleum and cameright of the statue, there was a stunningly beautiful
face to face with several 8 foot tall sculptures of themarble structure on the opposite side of the small
apostles lining the walls of the main corridor. While ainlet. As I approached, I counted 18 life size statues
startling find, I was mesmerized by the grandeur andincluded in this original artwork in marble complete
exquisite detail of these works of art. Thesewith a working fountain by artisan Ernesto Gazzeri.
enormous carvings were more than a tribute to theContinuing my tour of the grounds, I parked in front
faith. I found it to be like stepping into the halls of aof the Great Mausoleum, this building a work of art
great museum.itself with towering corridors and stained glass in the
As I exited the darkness of the mausoleum building Itraditional gothic architecture.
turned to my left and came upon a large reflectingAs I entered the Memorial Terrace, I found replica's
pool with and enormous memorial at the far end. Thisof The Pieta, and some of Michael Angelo's greatest
turned out to be the final resting place of the greatworks of art. But to my surprise was the magnificent
Douglass Fairbanks and his son Douglas Fairbanks Jr.reproduction of the Last Supper made completely of
The memorial stood ten feet tall made completely ofstained glass with a presentation of light and sound
white marble, beautifully engraved with "Good nightto dizzy the senses. This presentation of Michael
sweet princes, and flights of angels sing thee to thyAngelo's great work is not to be missed as the artist,
rest". As I stood before the herculean monument, IRosa Moretti used the original sketches from the
was quick to forget I was standing at a gravesitegreat master to complete her tribute.
with the artistry created in stone.My next tour took me to Valhalla cemetery where I
As I looked over the grounds on a clear sunny day, Ientered the memorial park and found an exquisite
was drawn to a large lake with a small island in thedomed memorial to the pioneers of flight. This
center. Set on this plot of land was a magnificentmemorial, named Portal of the Folded Wings shrine,
structure of white marble shining in the sunlight. As aholds the final burial place for thirteen of the greats in
crossed the small bridge spanning the lake, thisaviation and a cenotaph to the great Amelia Earhart.
building towered over me with its Greek inspiredAnother of the works of art is a scale model of the
columns and structure. The family crypt of the ClarkeSpace Shuttle Challenger with a bronze plaque
family is more than marble and stone. The attentiondedicated to the lost crew. A haunting remembrance
to detail has created an everlasting artistic creationof that first day of February 2003, when the
for generations to marvel in.Challenger disintegrated upon take off.
My next grave hunt brought me to the Forest Lawn