The town where the cemetery is located is called Valhalla. This name, meaning a heavenly abode for valiant warriors in Scandinavian mythology, was chosen in the 19th century by the wife of the local postmaster, who was a great admirer of Richard Wagner and his fascination with this mythology.

Sergei Vasilievich's grave is the most visited in the cemetery. As noted by the New York Times in 1992, tourists often express surprise upon learning that Rachmaninoff is buried here, exclaiming, "And we didn't know he left Russia!"