Elmwood Cemetery

Elmwood Cemetery is a historic Rural cemetery located in Memphis, Tennessee, founded in 1852 by Joseph Davies and John McLeod. The cemetery is the final resting place of many notable Memphians, including Confederate soldiers, Civil War veterans, and Yellow Fever epidemic victims, such as John Willis Menard and Hiram Revels. Elmwood Cemetery is also the resting place of Robert Church, a wealthy African American businessman and civil rights leader, who was a close friend of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois. The cemetery's history is closely tied to the city of Memphis and its development, with many notable figures from the city's past, such as E.H. Crump and Thomas G. Anderson, buried within its grounds.

● History

The history of Elmwood Cemetery dates back to the Mexican-American War, when the city of Memphis experienced a significant increase in population, leading to a need for a new cemetery. The cemetery was designed by Augustus Koch, a German-American landscape architect, who also designed the Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During the American Civil War, Elmwood Cemetery served as a Confederate cemetery, with many soldiers, including Nathan Bedford Forrest and Jefferson Davis, having family members buried there. The cemetery also contains the remains of Yellow Fever epidemic victims, including John McLeod, one of the cemetery's founders, who died during the 1878 Yellow Fever Epidemic. Notable figures from the women's suffrage movement, such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, have also been involved in the cemetery's history, with Ida B. Wells and Mary Church Terrell being buried nearby.

● Geography

Elmwood Cemetery is situated on an 80-acre site in the Midtown Memphis area, near the Wolf River and the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. The cemetery's geography is characterized by rolling hills, wooded areas, and a variety of tree species, including Oak and Magnolia. The cemetery's design is inspired by the Rural cemetery movement, which emphasized the importance of natural beauty and Landscape architecture. The cemetery is also located near the Overton Park, a large public park in Memphis that features several walking trails, a Lake, and the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. Nearby neighborhoods, such as Cooper-Young and Central Gardens, are known for their historic homes and Architecture.

● Notable_interments

Elmwood Cemetery is the final resting place of many notable individuals, including Robert Church, John Willis Menard, and Hiram Revels. Other notable interments include Nathan Bedford Forrest, Jefferson Davis, James L. Alcorn, and Lucius Q.C. Lamar. The cemetery is also the resting place of Elizabeth Avery Meriwether, a women's rights activist, and Ida B. Wells, a Journalist and civil rights leader. Additionally, the cemetery contains the graves of Confederate soldiers, Civil War veterans, and Yellow Fever epidemic victims, such as John McLeod and Thomas G. Anderson. Other notable figures buried in the cemetery include E.H. Crump, Thomas G. Anderson, and Robert R. Church Jr., who were all prominent figures in Memphis's history.

● Architecture

The architecture of Elmwood Cemetery is characterized by a mix of Gothic Revival, Victorian, and Art Deco styles. The cemetery's entrance is marked by a grand Gatehouse, designed by John McLeod and built in 1853. The cemetery's Mausoleums and Monuments are designed by notable architects, such as Augustus Koch and James B. Cook. The cemetery's Landscape architecture is inspired by the Rural cemetery movement, which emphasized the importance of natural beauty and Garden design. The cemetery's design has been influenced by other notable cemeteries, such as Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

● Preservation_efforts

Elmwood Cemetery has undergone significant preservation efforts in recent years, led by the Elmwood Cemetery Association and the City of Memphis. The cemetery has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979 and has been designated as a Historic District by the City of Memphis. The cemetery's preservation efforts have been supported by organizations such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Tennessee Historical Commission. The cemetery has also received funding from the National Park Service and the Institute of Museum and Library Services to support its preservation efforts. Additionally, the cemetery has partnered with local organizations, such as the Memphis Heritage Trail and the Downtown Memphis Commission, to promote its history and significance. Category:Cemeteries in Tennessee