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Richmond, Virginia: Dog Statue on Child's Grave

Metal dog stands at the grave of young Bernadine Rees, who succumbed to scarlet fever, but loved this statue.

Hollywood Cemetery

Address:
412 S. Cherry St., Richmond, VA
Directions:
Hollywood Cemetery. Enter the cemetery at the southwest corner of Albemarle and S. Cherry Sts. Once you've driven past the main building on the left, make the next right, then the next right, then the next left onto Cedar Ave. You'll see the grave and dog at that corner, on the left.
Hours:
Daily 8-6. Gated after hours. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:
804-648-8501
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Visitor Tips and News About Dog Statue on Child's Grave

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Dog Statue on Child's Grave.

Dog Statue on Child's Grave

We wasted time because we misread the cemetery map. The black dog statue is at the corner of Cedar and Confederate Avenues. A lot of people have put dog statues on graves, so it can be confusing. Be sure to talk to Woody, the caretaker in the chapel. He is awesome!

[Victoria Blunt, 02/14/2022]

Dogs on graves may have been a fad in 19th century Richmond, but elsewhere it's a novelty.

Child's grave and dog.

Dog Statue on Child's Grave

This is the best "spooky" grave as an attraction, within a totally awesome cemetery with beautiful views of the city. Also a vampire grave somewhere nearby, according to local legend. You'll also see an old industrial neighborhood on your way there.

[Molly, 08/11/2015]

Dog and grave.

Dog Statue on Child's Grave

If you can't find it, go to the pyramid Confederate Memorial first, and if you are facing the memorial, look to your right and you will see it in the distance.

[Somayeh, 05/02/2012]
Dog Statue on Child's Grave

There's a map on the right as you enter the cemetery that shows you where the dog is.

[Matt, 03/12/2012]

Dog Statue on Child's Grave

A statue of a dog stands guard on the grave of a young girl in Richmond's Hollywood Cemetery. Around 1862, a little girl named Bernadine Rees would regularly visit a merchant's shop with her mother, and the dog statue was outside of the merchant's business. The 2-year old girl loved the dog statue and would pet and talk to the "dog" whenever she visited. The little girl fell victim to scarlet fever, and passed away, and the mother was inconsolable. The merchant had been to the funeral, and offered up the dog statue to place on the child's grave, since she had loved it so when she had been alive.

The dog has stood guard on her grave ever since, and people periodically leave small gifts such as pennies and little toys as tokens of esteem or for good luck. The area of the cemetery where the grave is located is now known as "black dog hill."

[Sandi, 10/06/2010]

Nearby Offbeat Places

90-Foot-Tall Confederate Pyramid90-Foot-Tall Confederate Pyramid, Richmond, VA - < 1 mi.
Second Grave of James MonroeSecond Grave of James Monroe, Richmond, VA - < 1 mi.
American Civil War MuseumAmerican Civil War Museum, Richmond, VA - < 1 mi.
In the region:
Oldest Peanut Museum in the U.S., Waverly, VA - 40 mi.

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