In a city layered with history, few places evoke Memphis’ past quite like Elmwood Cemetery. On May 23rd, the historic resting grounds will debut their new “Stars, Stripes, & Stories” walking tour, a 75-minute guided experience created in honor of America’s 250th anniversary.
The tour explores the intersection of national history and Memphis memory through the lives of the people buried at Elmwood. Visitors will encounter Revolutionary War connections, Civil War history, veterans from major U.S. conflicts, suffragists, politicians, and Civil Rights leaders whose stories helped shape both the city and the nation.
Executive director Kim Bearden says the idea emerged as historic institutions across the country began planning commemorative programming for the nation’s semiquincentennial celebration. “Elmwood is one of the most important historic sites in Memphis,” Bearden says. “We wanted Elmwood to be included in that history narrative.”
Rather than presenting the past as a collection of dates and battles, the tour focuses on personal stories. One featured figure is Lieutenant George Washington Lee, a World War I veteran buried at Elmwood who later became the first Black author selected by the national Book of the Month Club. “History becomes relatable and memorable,” Bearden explains, “when it’s told through personal experience.”
The tour also highlights Elmwood’s Avenue of Flags that fly in the cemetery, sponsored by the National Society of Colonial Dames’ Memphis Town Committee. The display includes historically significant American flags, including the 31-star flag flying when Elmwood was founded in 1852 and the 37-star flag representing the era of Memphis’ devastating yellow fever epidemics.
Among the many notable individuals included in the tour are Rev. Benjamin Hooks, former NAACP president and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, and Hazel Jackson Lee, who served in the Women’s Army Corps during World War II before building a career in social services.
For Bearden, the experience of learning history outdoors — standing beside the memorials themselves — creates a powerful emotional connection. “You’re standing in the presence of the person who inspired those feelings,” she says.
The “Stars, Stripes, & Stories” Tour is supported by a grant from the Tennessee America 250 Commission. Wear your comfortable walking shoes and prepare to be amazed.
STARS, STRIPES, & STORIES TOUR, ELMWOOD CEMETERY, 824 S. DUDLEY ST., SATURDAY, MAY 23, 10 A.M., $10.