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21 Famous People You Probably Didn't Know Were Buried in Missouri

By on Fri, Jan 10, 2020 at 10:35 pm

From Dred Scott to the founder of St. Louis, the state of Missouri is the final resting place of many well-known historical figures, entertainers, business leaders, activists and heroes. The lives of these famous (and infamous) celebrities reflect Missouri's history as a hub of cultural connections and brave trailblazers.

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William S. Burroughs This icon of the Beat Generation (shown here on the left) and author of Naked Lunch grew up in St. Louis and is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery. Photo credit: JillMc1 / Flickr

William S. Burroughs


This icon of the Beat Generation (shown here on the left) and author of Naked Lunch grew up in St. Louis and is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery.

Photo credit: JillMc1 / Flickr
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James Thomas "Cool Papa" Bell Known as one of the fastest men to ever play baseball, this center fielder for the St. Louis Stars in the Negro leagues was a fan favorite. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

James Thomas "Cool Papa" Bell


Known as one of the fastest men to ever play baseball, this center fielder for the St. Louis Stars in the Negro leagues was a fan favorite.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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Stanley Musial Stan Musial, St. Louis baseball giant, is buried in Bellerive Gardens Cemetery in Creve Coeur. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Stanley Musial


Stan Musial, St. Louis baseball giant, is buried in Bellerive Gardens Cemetery in Creve Coeur.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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Chuck Berry Known as the godfather of rock and roll, Chuck Berry was a singer, songwriter and longtime St. Louis booster. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Chuck Berry


Known as the godfather of rock and roll, Chuck Berry was a singer, songwriter and longtime St. Louis booster.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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Tennessee Williams Famous playwright Tennessee Williams spent much of his life in Missouri and is buried near his mother in Calvary Cemetery. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Tennessee Williams


Famous playwright Tennessee Williams spent much of his life in Missouri and is buried near his mother in Calvary Cemetery.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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Andy Williams This prolific singer and variety show host was a star in Branson in his later years, and when he died, his ashes were sprinkled at his theater there. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Andy Williams


This prolific singer and variety show host was a star in Branson in his later years, and when he died, his ashes were sprinkled at his theater there.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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Dred Scott This St. Louis hero was an enslaved black man who sued for his freedom and is now buried in Calvary Cemetery where gravesite visitors place pennies on his grave — generally considered a reference to our Abraham Lincoln's and the abolitionist movement. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Dred Scott


This St. Louis hero was an enslaved black man who sued for his freedom and is now buried in Calvary Cemetery where gravesite visitors place pennies on his grave — generally considered a reference to our Abraham Lincoln's and the abolitionist movement.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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Chris von der Ahe German-American entrepreneur and owner of the St. Louis Brown Stockings, which later became the St. Louis Cardinals. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Chris von der Ahe


German-American entrepreneur and owner of the St. Louis Brown Stockings, which later became the St. Louis Cardinals.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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Eberhard Anheuser Businessman and father-in-law of Adolphus Busch, the founder of the Anheuser-Busch Company. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Eberhard Anheuser


Businessman and father-in-law of Adolphus Busch, the founder of the Anheuser-Busch Company.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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Thomas Hart Benton Democrat, senator and proponent of the idea of "westward expansion," which later became known as Manifest Destiny. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Thomas Hart Benton


Democrat, senator and proponent of the idea of "westward expansion," which later became known as Manifest Destiny.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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Henry Shaw The man who made Tower Grove Park and the Missouri Botanical Garden is buried in the mausoleum on the grounds at the garden. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Henry Shaw


The man who made Tower Grove Park and the Missouri Botanical Garden is buried in the mausoleum on the grounds at the garden.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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Susan Blow Known as the "Mother of Kindergarten," she opened and ran the first successful public kindergarten in the country. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Susan Blow


Known as the "Mother of Kindergarten," she opened and ran the first successful public kindergarten in the country.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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Mickey Carroll One of the original munchkins in the Wizard of Oz, Mickey Carroll was also one of the sweetest men in all of St. Louis. Photo credit: Jennifer Silverberg

Mickey Carroll


One of the original munchkins in the Wizard of Oz, Mickey Carroll was also one of the sweetest men in all of St. Louis.

Photo credit: Jennifer Silverberg
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Daniel Boone One of the most famous explorers in history, Boone is buried in Marthasville. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Daniel Boone


One of the most famous explorers in history, Boone is buried in Marthasville.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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Adolphus Busch This co-founder of Anheuser-Busch has a very beautiful gravesite in in Bellefontaine Cemetery. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Adolphus Busch


This co-founder of Anheuser-Busch has a very beautiful gravesite in in Bellefontaine Cemetery.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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Kate Chopin This author of The Awakening was born in St. Louis and is buried in Calvary Cemetery. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Kate Chopin


This author of The Awakening was born in St. Louis and is buried in Calvary Cemetery.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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William Clark Explorer William Clark was originally buried downtown, but sometime in the 1860s his body was moved to Bellefontaine Cemetery. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

William Clark


Explorer William Clark was originally buried downtown, but sometime in the 1860s his body was moved to Bellefontaine Cemetery.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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Virginia Minor This famous women's suffrage activist was born in St. Louis was buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery after she died in 1894. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Virginia Minor


This famous women's suffrage activist was born in St. Louis was buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery after she died in 1894.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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Sara Teasdale This Pulitzer Prize-winning poet was born in St. Louis and is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Sara Teasdale


This Pulitzer Prize-winning poet was born in St. Louis and is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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Auguste Chouteau This founder of St. Louis was originally buried near the Old Cathedral, but his body was eventually moved to Calvary Cemetery. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Auguste Chouteau


This founder of St. Louis was originally buried near the Old Cathedral, but his body was eventually moved to Calvary Cemetery.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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