Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Georgia is unique for many reasons, but perhaps the most intriguing is the presence of two graves embedded in its runway.
These graves belong to Richard and Catherine Dotson, a couple who lived and farmed on the land long before it became an airport.
The story begins in the 1800s when the Dotson family owned a large farm in the area now occupied by the airport. Richard and Catherine Dotson were prominent members of this farming community. They were both born in 1797 and married for 50 years before Catherine passed away in 1877. Richard followed her in 1884. As was customary at the time, they were buried on their family land.
Fast forward to the 20th century, and the landscape of the area began to change dramatically. With the onset of World War II, the U.S. government needed additional facilities for military operations. In 1942, the federal government and the City of Savannah negotiated a lease for 1,100 acres of land, which included the Dotson family farm. The land was to be used for the construction of what is now Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.
During the construction, most of the Dotson family graves were relocated to Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah. However, the Dotson descendants insisted that the graves of Richard and Catherine remain undisturbed. They believed that the couple would have wanted to stay on the land they had lived and worked on for their entire lives. As a result, the graves were incorporated into the runway, making Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport the only airport in the world with graves embedded in its tarmac.
The graves are located at the edge of runways 10 and 28, marked by two rectangular shapes visible on the tarmac. These markers serve as a sign of respect to the couple buried beneath the runway’s surface. In addition to Richard and Catherine, two other family members, Daniel Hueston and John Dotson, also have graves near the runway.
This unique feature of Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is a testament to the area’s rich history and the enduring legacy of the Dotson family. It serves as a reminder of the past, even as planes take off and land on the very ground where the Dotsons once lived and worked. The graves of Richard and Catherine Dotson are not just a curiosity; they are a poignant symbol of the connection between the land and the people who once called it home.