The showmen's section of Mount Olivet Cemetery is one of the most singular burial grounds in the United States. For generations, circus families have wintered in Hugo, and when showmen died, this is where they were laid to rest. The result is a collection of headstones that reflect the lives they memorialized: carved elephants, big-top motifs, and inscriptions that name the performer's act alongside their dates.
The cemetery is open during daylight hours and is easily found at the edge of town. It requires no admission and no special arrangement. Walk slowly and read the stones — the stories compressed into the inscriptions are worth the time. Hugo's circus heritage is unusual enough that even visitors with no particular interest in the circus find the cemetery affecting.