Old Settler's Cemetery, Charlotte

The Old Settlers’ Cemetery is the oldest historic burial ground in Charlotte, North Carolina, offering a glimpse into the city’s early history and the lives of its first residents. Located near the center of Uptown Charlotte, the cemetery dates back to 1776, when the growing frontier settlement needed a formal place for burials. Originally known simply as the “City Cemetery,” it served the community for nearly a century before larger cemeteries were established elsewhere.

Covering several acres, the cemetery contains the graves of many of Charlotte’s early citizens. Among those famed North Carolina buried at Old Settlers' Cemetery is Thomas Polk, founding father of Charlotte and Continental Army Officer during the American Revolutionary War. Some of the oldest markers date from the late 18th century and reflect the simple stonework typical of early American frontier communities. As the city grew, the cemetery gradually became surrounded by urban development, turning it into a quiet historic enclave amid the modern skyline.

The cemetery is also notable for the variety of gravestone styles found throughout the grounds. Visitors can see early slate and sandstone markers, ornate Victorian monuments, and family plots that illustrate changing memorial traditions over the 19th century. Many inscriptions provide insight into the hardships of the era, including epidemics and high infant mortality rates.

Today, Old Settlers’ Cemetery is preserved as an important historic landmark and memorial landscape. Maintained by local preservation groups and the city, it serves as a peaceful place of remembrance while offering visitors a tangible connection to Charlotte’s earliest generations.