Elmwood Cemetery
Dating back to 1852, this historic, 80-acre sanctuary in Midtown is filled with elaborate marble sculptures, simple headstones, and towering shade trees—alongside, of course, thousands of victims of war, disease, and every other cause of death you can think of. It’s equal parts macabre and beautiful, which is kind of as Memphis as you can get. You can stroll the grounds alone, but a guided tour will bring the history to life. Or attend one of the cemetery events—why, naturally we hold Easter egg hunts here, along with tree tours, gardening classes and book stories. Notable people buried here include Civil War historian and author Shelby Foote, and many important figures from local African-American history, including activist Maxine Smith, businessman and philanthropist Robert Reed Church Sr., and photographer Ernest Withers.
Most haunting, however, is “No Man’s Land,” a public lot marking the gravesites of 1,500 victims of the 1878 yellow fever epidemic. It’s one of the South’s first rural garden cemeteries, which are notable for their pastoral landscaping, scenic viewpoints, ancient trees, and beautiful memorials. Between 75,000 and 85,000 souls have been laid to rest in the cemetery, including some who fought in the American Revolution, brothel madams, suffragists, and blues singers. There’s also a mass grave comprised of about 1,000 Confederate soldiers, marked with simple block-shaped stones, and a granite monument in the cemetery which marks the mass grave of hundreds of slaves. In the Miller Circle section, you’ll find “the bathtub graves,” which are simply gravesites marking the final resting place of Memphians including Elizabeth Rozier Archer. A woman after my own heart, Archer managed to get her beloved poodle, Ricci, buried here near her, under a block of white marble. Maps are available in the Victorian Garden Cottage that serves as the Visitors Center. Allot 1 to 2 hours.
Dating back to 1852, this historic, 80-acre sanctuary in Midtown is filled with elaborate marble sculptures, simple headstones, and towering shade trees—alongside, of course, thousands of victims of war, disease, and every other cause of death you can think of. It’s equal parts macabre and beautiful, which is kind of as Memphis as you can get. You can stroll the grounds alone, but a guided tour will bring the history to life. Or attend one of the cemetery events—why, naturally we hold Easter egg hunts here, along with tree tours, gardening classes and book stories. Notable people buried here include Civil War historian and author Shelby Foote, and many important figures from local African-American history, including activist Maxine Smith, businessman and philanthropist Robert Reed Church Sr., and photographer Ernest Withers.
Most haunting, however, is “No Man’s Land,” a public lot marking the gravesites of 1,500 victims of the 1878 yellow fever epidemic. It’s one of the South’s first rural garden cemeteries, which are notable for their pastoral landscaping, scenic viewpoints, ancient trees, and beautiful memorials. Between 75,000 and 85,000 souls have been laid to rest in the cemetery, including some who fought in the American Revolution, brothel madams, suffragists, and blues singers. There’s also a mass grave comprised of about 1,000 Confederate soldiers, marked with simple block-shaped stones, and a granite monument in the cemetery which marks the mass grave of hundreds of slaves. In the Miller Circle section, you’ll find “the bathtub graves,” which are simply gravesites marking the final resting place of Memphians including Elizabeth Rozier Archer. A woman after my own heart, Archer managed to get her beloved poodle, Ricci, buried here near her, under a block of white marble. Maps are available in the Victorian Garden Cottage that serves as the Visitors Center. Allot 1 to 2 hours.
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