The far side of old Magnolia Cemetery, down near the salt marshes, has a row of mausoleums built in the late 1800’s. After the US Civil War traditional church grave yards had become full. A war, major earthquake, and a yellow fever pandemic made cemeteries now an option.

One of the large mausoleums has had all the vaults removed in the past. The coffins were placed under the tile floors. Unusual for a large ornate building.

The large Wragg family crypts remain in their places in a second nearby building.

I have read it’s unusual to have multiple crypts still within the old mausoleums around the US. Not in old Magnolia, there are quite a few here.

People with wealth during the 1800’s expected to be buried in the grave yards of the church they attended. Cemeteries came into use once the traditional grave yards were no longer available. Eventually it became a status symbol to have expensive monuments in large cemeteries, even if the family members were buried at the church.

Charleston, South Carolina.