The Fascinating Cemetery Tour That Will Show You A Side Of Tennessee You've Never Seen Before
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Meghan Kraft
Author
When you think of history tours, you most likely don’t put “cemetery tour” right on the top of your list. You may think of historic downtowns and main streets, perhaps a few buildings or museums. In Memphis, Tennessee, however, one of the best ways to experience the history and weight in the city is to spend a bit of time with the city’s dead at the Elmwood Cemetery.
The historic Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee, is the oldest active cemetery in the city of Memphis, having been established in the year 1852.
It made its name as one of the first ever rural garden cemeteries in the American south. It's distinguished by its park-like setting and shady knolls for resting, as well as the gorgeous monuments that pepper the grounds.
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Even if you haven't visited Memphis for yourself, you may have peeped the cemetery in the Hollywood film, The Firm.
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There are roughly 1,000 Confederate soldiers and veterans buried on the grounds, including a handful of generals and Tennessee's former governor, Thomas Battle Turley.
The cemetery itself offers quite a few tours and events throughout the year so that locals and tourists will be able to learn about and experience the cemetery in its entirety.
One of the eeriest aspects of the cemetery is perhaps the 2,500 victims of the Yellow Fever that are interred in Elmwood. You'll find doctors, ministers, travelers, nuns and even prostitutes who perished of the disease while looking to tend to the dying.
You can visit for yourself at 824 South Dudley Street in Memphis, Tennessee, from 8am to 4:30 pm seven days a week, including holidays.
Continue to experience the beauty of Tennessee with a visit to this gorgeous, blooming state park.
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