Tour of Evergreen Cemetery for Rutherford County Heritage Month

Sep 01, 2014 at 04:30 am by bryan


Did you know that Evergreen Cemetery began as a slave burial ground for Oaklands Plantation in the mid-1800's? The cemetery officially began on May 30, 1872, when Dr. James Maney sold a 20-acre tract encompassing the plantation's slave burial ground to the city of Murfreesboro. Intriguing tales, historical facts and good old-fashioned stories live on through an evocative cemetery tour.

This memorable, morning tour of Evergreen Cemetery will be offered on Saturday, October 4, at 10:00 a.m. as part of the Rutherford County Heritage Month. Cemetery tours will depart from the entrance of the cemetery on Greenland Drive. Tickets may be pre-purchased on-line at www.oaklandsmuseum.org, at Oaklands prior to the event, or at Oaklands Visitors Center or Evergreen Cemetery the day of the tours. Ticket cost is $5 per person. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Reservations are not required.

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"Few families would place cemeteries high on their list of places to visit, but maybe they should," explains Mary Beth Nevills, educational director of Oaklands Historic House Museum. "After all, cemeteries offer art, architecture and local history in a natural outdoor setting. And just like pictures in a museum, every monument in a cemetery tells a story." Nevills adds, "Not only can you take a walk through the cemetery, you can learn about mourning customs during the Civil War era."

The tour is a 45-minute walk of the incredible history of Evergreen Cemetery. Wander among the graves of some of Murfreesboro's founders and earliest citizens and hear their interesting stories. Revisit the lives of James Richardson, Adaline Maney, and Confederate soldiers, just to name a few. Comfortable walking shoes and weather appropriate clothing are recommended.

In honor of Rutherford County Heritage Month, visitors are encouraged to also participate in cemetery tours and special programs at the Stones River National Battlefield and The Historic Sam Davis Home and Plantation. For a complete list of tour times at all locations, please visit www.oaklandsmuseum.org or www.nps.gov/stri.

Oaklands Historic House Museum, located at 900 North Maney Avenue in Murfreesboro, Tennessee is a nationally registered historic landmark that reflects a time of prosperity in the Old South, as well as the hardships suffered during the Civil War.

For more information, contact Oaklands Historic House Museum at (615) 893-0022 or email mb@oaklandsmuseum.org

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