Blandford Church and Cemetery, Petersburg, VA.

Actor Joseph Cotton is buried here.  The earliest headstone is dated 1702 (Richard Yarborough.)  There is even a BRITISH Revolutionary War officer buried here!  There is a monument to the Petersburg soldiers that gained fame during the war of 1812.  It was during that war that Petersburg got the moniker of  "the Cockade City."

Anyone know what flag this is?  It might be a trick question.

There are three Civil War Generals and 30,000 of their troops.  The very first Memorial Day was celebrated here in June, 1866.  

There are two Virginia governors buried here and a couple of dogs (no, real dogs, not politicians...)  However, all has not been peaceful here at Blandford Cemetery.  A couple of dudes fought an old-fashioned duel here over love, and the cemetery was shelled during the Civil War siege of Petersburg.  All seems quiet now, though.

You might think it kind of strange that folks make a cemetery part of their itinerary, but the Blandford Church inside the cemetery has something totally unique:  10 or 12 huge stained lead glass windows made by Louis Comfort Tiffany.  Oh, my goodness, they are gorgeous!  From the outside you can't hardly tell anything about them, so you have to take the $5 tour.

Tiffany accepted the commission on the condition that he have full reign on the content.  Each window was bought by a different state in the Confederacy to honor the 30,000 soldiers buried here - and this church which survived the siege.  There is an amazing story behind each and every window.  I don't know if photos are available on line, but I PROMISE you that they wouldn't do justice to the real thing.  A couple of the windows are even three dimensional.  It's only $5 for the tour - almost anyone can afford that.  Look at the interior construction of the building, too.  It's a work of art itself.

It is a definite must see!