Mike's Top 10 Favorite Gravesites

Napoleon's Grave is as big as they come. He is buried beneath a huge gold-domed building. The design, colors, and setting all make his a grave definitely deserving of note.

Being the head honcho of Luxembourg may not seem like much for bragging rights, but this lady at least got a kickin' grave for doing the job.

Warren Harding was extremely popular when he died and thus was given this huge monument. But, due to revelations about his administration that came to light later on, he is now regarded as one of the worst presidents ever. Still, he has a great grave. I particularly like the Japanese-like garden within the monument.

If I had to pick my favorite gravesite anywhere, I would likely select Herbert Hoover's. Those who designed the burial site were able perfectly to combine elegance with tasteful simplicity. It is a fitting tribute to a great man who may have been remembered as a great president had he been in office at a different point in history.

Albert Johnston was the highest-ranking person to die in battle during the Civil War. His beautiful gravesite is in an equally-beautiful cemetery.

One of the curses of musicians and artists is that the great ones are far too often appreciated only after their deaths. Joplin died penniless and thus only has this very simple grave. But I thought it was good not to overemphasize the death of someone whose music has so much life.

No gravesite has been so unexpectedly exciting to find as Judson's. This is because I did not know his grave was even in this cemetery, and I came upon it entirely by accident. Since Judson is one of my personal heroes, this was a singular treat.

This is one of the classiest burial sites I have seen. It is an excellent tribute to a man who helped a nation to begin to see each other as God does, no person of lesser value than any other.

Other than Napoleon Bonaparte's grave, this is the largest gravesite I have seen (larger if you don't count the big building Napoleon is in). For the man who was likely America's greatest president, the immense monument stands in stark contrast to his personal humility.

Certainly among the most unusual memorials, James Monroe's is still quite fascinating and certainly unique.

Everything about this grave contributes to a fitting memorial to this eccentric genius. When I visited, the grave had beautiful fresh flowers on it (as it does in any picture I have seen of the grave). The sad angel beside the broken column is a very sensitive and evocative picture.

A monument that is neither insignificant nor overpowering, Reagan's grave strikes a good balance and is a fitting resting place for such a great president.

I like this grave partly because of its setting (in a nice open area of an otherwise-cluttered cemetery) and partly because of its design. The columns with a bust of Sanders were well-designed and quite appropriate, I think.

A combination of sobriety and intense patriotism comes across Americans who visit this site. As far as symbolism goes, you won't top this in too many places.

This grave is beneath the pulpit of one of the oldest Presbyterian churches in the nation (grave accessible by the basement). In spite of the odd skull sitting at the foot of Whitefield's grave, it is a fascinating gravesite.

Napoleon Bonaparte

French Emperor

Burial Location: Les Invalides, Paris, France

Napoleon's Grave is as big as they come. He is buried beneath a huge gold-domed building. The design, colors, and setting all make his a grave definitely deserving of note.