Entry No. 13 — the Raleigh file — filed under: haunted
Dorothea Dix Hospital Cemetery
Tucked away in Dorothea Dix Park, this poignant three-acre cemetery is the final resting place of over 900 psychiatric patients buried between 1859 and 1970, many in unmarked graves due to the historical stigma of mental illness.
The story
You can wander Dorothea Dix Park for hours taking in skyline views without ever realizing you're walking alongside a forgotten chapter of North Carolina's medical past. Tucked off Dawkins Drive on a quiet three-acre plot sit the grounds of the former psychiatric hospital's cemetery. Between 1859 and 1970, more than 900 patients were laid to rest here, many buried in silence and obscurity.
Because of the severe social stigma surrounding mental illness throughout the 19th and mid-20th centuries, families often refused to claim the deceased, leaving the institution to handle burials quietly. Scores of graves were left completely unmarked or marked only with simple, numbered stones. The burials stopped in 1970, but the weight of those unremembered lives remains anchored in the dirt.
What it's like
Finding the site requires cutting away from the park's main lawns toward Dawkins Drive. The site is solemn and quiet, shaded by trees and framed by a path lined with crepe myrtles. Walk down toward the southeast corner to find the wall of remembrance—a modest memorial site where visitors regularly leave small trinkets, polished stones, and coins for the patients buried without names. It’s an intensely reflective spot, far removed from the usual park crowd.
The move: Walk the quiet, shaded path lined with crepe myrtles to the southeast corner, where you can pay respects at the 'wall of remembrance' adorned with small, personal trinkets left by visitors.
- 📍 Southwest Raleigh
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 747 Dawkins Dr, Raleigh, NC 27606
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Spring Hill House — Located less than half a mile away on Centennial Campus, this 1820 plantation house site holds Wake County's oldest marked grave, offering a natural second stop for local grave-hunting.
- Thomas Dambo's Trolls at Dorothea Dix Park — Follow up the somber cemetery stroll with a search through the surrounding park woods for giant troll sculptures built from reclaimed timber.
- Oberlin Cemetery — Pair this with another historic three-acre Raleigh burial site, established in 1873 as the final resting place for the city's early African American community.
- The Holy Rose — Head just under a mile north after your park walk to browse occult supplies and custom magic oils at this longstanding esoteric shop.
Good to know
Where is the cemetery located?
It's located at 747 Dawkins Drive inside Dorothea Dix Park, sitting between Western Boulevard and Lake Wheeler Road.
Why are so many graves unmarked?
Due to historical social stigma attached to mental illness, many patients were interred by hospital staff without formal headstones or family markers between 1859 and 1970.
What do people leave at the wall of remembrance?
Visitors frequently leave small personal tokens, coins, stones, and trinkets to pay respects to the nameless patients interred on the property.
Are there set hours to visit?
The cemetery generally follows Dorothea Dix Park's public access hours, but you should double-check park schedules before planning your trip.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: dixpark.org · hmdb.org · Official site · Wikipedia
last checked: 2026-07-21