Notable possessions buried with historical figures

Leaving behind everything we know is one of the most frightening aspects of death, and for famous stars who made a huge impact in the world, they leave behind an entire mythology about them as well. Some stars over the years have taken their persona to the grave, choosing to be buried with the things that came to represent them most over their lives, while others had quite surprising additions to their coffins.

There are famous last words, and then there are famous last wishes of what people wanted to take with them on their journey to the afterlife. Click through to see who had the most unusual keepsakes buried with them.

Frank Sinatra (1915-1998)

Ol' Blue Eyes was certainly buried his way, with a bottle of Jack Daniel's whiskey, a pack of Camel cigarettes, a Zippo lighter, and a dollar's worth of dimes—in case he needed to use a pay phone.

William S. Burroughs (1914-1997)

The famous Beat Generation novelist was reportedly buried with a loaded .38 caliber revolver, along with a sword cane, a ballpoint pen, a fedora, and a joint.

Bela Lugosi (1882-1956)

The most famous interpreter of Dracula, both on Broadway and on-screen, spent most of his career in coffins, and in death he was reportedly buried with Dracula's signature black cape.

Elizabeth Taylor (1932-2011)

Elizabeth Taylor was famously married eight times during her life, and two of those marriages were to Richard Burton. After their second divorce, Burton still kept a place in his heart for Taylor, and wrote her one last love letter three days before he passed in 1984. She kept it by her bedside for 27 years, and then she was buried with it.

John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)

The 35th US President was a collector of scrimshaw (pieces of whale bone engraved with pictures and designs), and he was buried with one engraved with the presidential seal that his wife Jackie Kennedy had given him. He was also buried with letters from his wife and children, and a pair of gold cufflinks.

Ernie Kovacs (1919-1962)

The comedian and television pioneer, who some say died in a car crash as he was trying to light a cigar, was then reportedly buried with one put in his hand, placed there by his widow, Edie Adams.

Wild Bill Hickok (1837-1876)

The legendary Wild West gunslinger and lawman was buried characteristically with his rifle.

Miles Davis (1926-1991)

The legendary jazz trumpeter is said to have been buried with one or more of his beloved horns.

Harry Houdini (1874-1926)

The famous magician and escape artist was buried with his head resting on a pillow of letters from his beloved mother, whose prior passing had deeply affected him. Houdini's coffin was the same solid bronze model that he had used underwater in one of his acts.

Tony Curtis (1925-2010)

The actor had some of the strangest items packed into his coffin, including his Stetson hat, an iPhone, a pair of driving gloves, his grandson's baby shoes, the ashes of his dog, and a copy of his favorite novel, 'Anthony Adverse,' a book that inspired his stage name.

Sandra West (1939-1977)

The Beverly Hills socialite and wife of Texas oil tycoon Ike West requested to be buried in her favorite 1964 Ferrari—"with the seat slanted comfortably"—at the Alamo Masonic Cemetery. The car, and her lingerie-clad body inside, were positioned in a concrete box and covered with cement to prevent grave-robbing.

Humphrey Bogart (1899-1957)

The actor's cremated remains were accompanied by a small gold whistle with the inscription, "If you want anything, just whistle," which he had given his widow, Lauren Bacall, years earlier. The line refers to the first film they did together, 1944's  'To Have and Have Not.'

Alexander McQueen (1969-2010)

The British fashion designer killed himself three years after the woman credited with discovering him, magazine fashion director Isabella Blow, passed away. After her death, he requested a lock of her hair, had it encased in a ring, and at his funeral he was buried with that ring.

Tiny Tim (1932-1996)

The ukulele-playing singer, best known for his 1968 rendition of 'Tip-Toe Thru' The Tulips With Me,' was reportedly buried with his beloved instrument and tulips.