Magnolia Cemetery (Charleston, South Carolina)

{{Short description|Historic cemetery}}

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox NRHP

| name = Magnolia Cemetery

| nrhp_type = hd

| nocat = yes

| image = Magnolia Cemetery, Van der Horst Mausoleum, Cunningham Avenue, Charleston (Charleston County, South Carolina).jpg

| caption = Vanderhorst Mausoleum

| nearest_city = Charleston, South Carolina

| coordinates = {{coord|32|49|6|N|79|56|32|W|display=inline,title}}

| locmapin = South Carolina#USA

| area = {{convert|92|acre}}

| built = 1850

| architect = Edward C. Jones

| architecture =

| added = March 24, 1978

| refnum = 78002502{{NRISref|2010a}}

}}

Magnolia Cemetery is a historic rural cemetery in Charleston, South Carolina.{{Cite web

| last = McNulty | first = Kappy |author2=Nenie Dixon |author3=Elias B. Bull| title = Magnolia Cemetery | work = National Register of Historic Places – Nomination and Inventory | date = August 23, 1976| url = http://www.nationalregister.sc.gov/charleston/S10817710101/S10817710101.pdf | accessdate = 11 June 2012}}{{Cite web | title = Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston County (off U.S. Hwy. 52, Charleston vicinity) | work = National Register Properties in South Carolina | publisher = South Carolina Department of Archives and History | url = http://www.nationalregister.sc.gov/charleston/S10817710165/index.htm | accessdate = 11 June 2012}} The first board for the cemetery was assembled in 1849. Edward C. Jones served as the architect.{{cite news |publisher=Charleston Courier |date=January 1, 1850 |location=Charleston, South Carolina |page=2}} It was dedicated in 1850; Charles Fraser delivered the dedication address.Alfred L. Brophy, [https://ssrn.com/abstract=2304305 "These Great and Beautiful Republics of the Dead": Public Constitutionalism and the Antebellum Cemetery] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a Historic District in 1978.

The location of the cemetery had previously been a plantation known as Magnolia Umbra, the house of which was described as a newly built house with five rooms in 1820.{{cite news |work=City Gazette |date=April 12, 1820 |location=Charleston, South Carolina |page=1}} The cemetery was constructed during 1850, on plans laid out by Edward C. Jones, and included a Gothic chapel also designed by Jones which no longer exists.{{cite news |title=Magnolia Cemetery |work=Charleston Courier |date=July 20, 1850 |location=Charleston, South Carolina |page=2 |language=English}} The chapel, which was located near the central lake, remained under construction until early 1851.{{cite news |title=The Magnolia Cemetery |work=Charleston Courier |date=January 18, 1851 |location=Charleston, South Carolina |page=2}} Both the chapel and the porter's lodge sustained very heavy damage during the cemetery's occupation by federal forces during the Civil War.{{cite news |title=A Visit to Magnolia |work=Daily News |date=November 12, 1866 |location=Charleston, South Carolina |page=2}}{{cite book |author1=Jacob N. Cardozo |title=Reminiscences of Charleston |date=1866 |publisher=J. Walker |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo1.ark:/13960/t9c54600d&view=1up&seq=84 |language=English}} The porter's lodge at the entrance was demolished in 1868, but the chapel continued to be used until at least 1876.{{cite news |title=The City of the Dead |work=News and Courier |date=May 9, 1876 |page=4 |language=English}}{{cite book |last1=Mazyck |first1=Arthur |title=Guide to Charleston illustrated. Being a sketch of the history of Charleston, S. C. with some account of its present condition, with numerous engravings |date=1875 |publisher=Walker, Evans & Cogswell |location=Charleston, South Carolina |page=118}}

According to a 1909 newspaper account, "There is a rule in Charleston that colored people shall not be allowed to parade through Magnolia cemetery, the principal burying place of the white citizens," and this exclusion policy was enforced regardless of social status, such as in the case of Dr. Crum being prohibited from driving through the cemetery.{{Cite news |date=1909-03-18 |title=One on Dr. Crum: All Coons Looked Alike to the Irish Gate Keeper at Magnolia |pages=7 |work=The County Record |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-county-record-one-on-dr-crum-all-c/129559896/ |access-date=2023-08-06}}