Multi-Million Dollar Restoration of Roman Emperor Augustus’ Mausoleum Begins

Augustus may have initiated the era of the Pax Romana, but there has been little peace at his gravesite in the centuries following his death.

The mausoleum holding the remains of the founder and first emperor of Rome has withstood a series of rowdy events and interlopers, including a group of invaders who sacked the tomb in 410, a bullfighting ring, a cat colony, and present-day prostitutes. However, archaeologists and the city of Rome have furnished funding and plans to restore the mausoleum to its former glory.

Grave Markers: Price and Important Selection Considerations

Grave markers serve an important dual purpose; marking the remains of the deceased, and providing a focal point for grief. Families choose grave headstones based on a few key criteria: budget, style, and what represents the deceased family member.

Budget is a Key Consideration When Selecting Grave Markers

While it may seem crass, budget is a key consideration when selecting gravestone markers. With all of the other expenses associated with funeral planning, spending another $500 to $3,000 – or more – on elaborate grave marker designs is something that many families simply can’t afford. Families typically begin shopping for grave markers for sale within a specific budget; say $300 to $500; and then look for affordable grave markers within that price range. Cheap grave markers tend to start around $175 to $200, but it’s difficult to find grave stones at a price point lower than that.

Bronx Cemetery to Sell Over 2,000 Mausoleum Plots Near Jazz Legends

Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx has added 2,275 new mausoleum and burial plots to the “Jazz Corner” of its cemetery grounds – where jazz legends Miles Davis, Max Roach, and Duke Ellington are interred. According to the cemetery’s executive director, the plots are selling like hot cakes.

Mausoleums – The New Age of Resting In Style

Who said that you have to go without your favorite amenities, even after your passing? This was the exact sentiment that the infamous Mexican drug lords had in mind when they constructed some of North America’s most lavish and fully equipped mausoleums. Built in the capital city of Sinaloa, these custom-built resting places come with air conditioning, wi-fi access, guest bedrooms, full kitchens, and even private movie theaters. Fashioned after their everyday homes, these jaw-dropping mausoleums cost no less than $250,000 and are monitored by security cameras 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Mausoleum Art Exhibition Brings Back Figures of The Gilded Age

One of the most famous cemeteries in the country is celebrating its 150th anniversary with a spectacular art party. As reported by the New York Times, the Bronx’s Woodlawn Cemetery is exhibiting its Gilded Age tombs at Columbia University’s Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery, starting on Sept. 3: “Sylvan Cemetery: Architecture, Art and Landscape at Woodlawn.”

The exhibit features mausoleum artwork, furniture, stained glass, ironwork, and sculptures from the Gilded Age period (1870s to 1900). Curators of the exhibition took extra steps contextualize the pieces, including researching tomb designers and tomb inhabitants and reaching out to descendants of the deceased individuals entombed at Woodlawn.

The Last Link to a Bygone Era: Civil War Mausoleum To Be Restored

It’s difficult to envision a cemetery that was once “the center of town life,” but the grounds at Zion Chapel on Hilton Head Island (off the coast of South Carolina) was just that. The cemetery was the heart of the island’s settlements in the pre-Civil War period until Union soldiers invaded in 1861 and was the final resting place of numerous Civil War soldiers.

The cemetery has weathered the last 165 years, but now its historic Banyard Mausoleum is on the brink of collapsing, and the Heritage Library Foundation hopes to raise $175,000 for renovations. The group intends to preserve the historic antebellum architecture of the structure, which is the island’s oldest and only surviving building from the Civil War period. It houses the remains of affluent planter William Eddings Banyard and his family. The marble-covered crypt holds 21 burial chambers that are still intact, though only seven people were interred within.

2,100 Year-Old Royal Mausoleum Discovered in China

Archaeologists recently discovered the 2,100 year-old tomb of Chinese King Liu Fei, who died in 128 BC. The mountaintop excavation, which took two years, unearthed 10,000 artifacts made of gold, silver, bronze, and jade.

As befitting a ruler known for “extreme arrogance and luxury,” according to historians, Liu Fei entered the afterlife in grand style. Replete with all the treasures of the ancient world, his mausoleum offers a glimpse of his luxurious lifestyle, boasting:

Eisenstadt, Austria: The Eternal Home of Joseph Haydn

The quaint Austrian town of Eisenstadt, home to little more than 13,000 people, is the state capital of Burgenland. Nestled in the foothills of the Leitha Mountains, this town has a long and storied history that dates back to well before the time of Christ.

Located only a 45 minute drive from Vienna, the town of Eisenstadt is known for its wine production, beautiful castles, religious architecture, and the many museums that call the city home. It is, however, Eisenstadt’s most famous resident who is responsible for bringing the town to life each year. 

Memory Gardens Mausoleum Bankruptcy

After repeated financial problems, the Cullman Memory Gardens has once more been closed by the State of Alabama. In 2008, the mausoleum had been taken into receivership due to alleged mismanagement by the previous owner – Mike Graham and Associates. The property facilities have continued to deteriorate due to the failure to provide proper maintenance. Families complained of a foul liquid smell emanating from the tombs of the mausoleum. Bankruptcy trustees have been placed in charge of Cullman Memory Gardens.