Elmwood Cemetery & Mausoleum

Origin:

Elmwood Cemetery & Mausoleum was established in 1852 and is the oldest operating cemetery in Birmingham, Alabama. It is located at 800 11th Avenue South in a historic neighborhood of Downtown Birmingham. The cemetery contains over 150 acres with more than 82,000 gravesites, including many notable figures from Alabama's past.

Significance:

Elmwood Cemetery & Mausoleum is one of Birmingham's most significant historic sites. It houses many prominent citizens, including two former Governors of Alabama and two United States senators. The cemetery also includes several Civil War veterans, including those who fought in a battle at the cemetery itself.

Elmwood Cemetery also has a diverse flora and fauna, making it an important safe space for local wildlife.

Notable Gravesites:

Elmwood Cemetery & Mausoleum is the final resting place for many famous individuals, including dozens of prominent civil rights activists, musicians, and politicians. Among them are Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, a central figure in the Birmingham Campaign; renowned jazz musician Erskine Hawkins; and former Alabama governor and senator George Wallace. Other vital individuals interred at Elmwood include U.S. Representatives John Hill Wheeler and Armistead Selden, Jr., wealthy industrialist Benjamin Roden, and prominent local businessman Mose Emery.

History and Architecture:

Elmwood Cemetery & Mausoleum was founded in 1852 on land donated by Civil War veteran Reverend John Hill Wheeler. It is one of Alabama's top most beautiful and unique historic cemeteries. Initially, the cemetery was a traditional rural cemetery with winding roads and paths allowing visitors to stroll and reflect peacefully. The cemetery was basically designed to resemble the American picturesque garden-style cemeteries of the nineteenth century, with rolling hills and winding pathways.

Today, Elmwood is home to numerous historic monuments, including:

• The Civil War Soldiers Monument honors the soldiers who fought in the Battle of Blountsville at Elmwood in 1862.

• The Spanish-American War Memorial honors those who served in the Spanish-American battle and is located near the cemetery's main entrance.

• Confederate Monument:  Installed in 1904, this monument honors the fallen Confederate soldiers buried at Elmwood.

• The cemetery also contains two Romanesque Revival mausoleums built in 1941 and 1962.

Elmwood Cemetery & Mausoleum is Birmingham's best landmark, and it has continued to serve as a reminder of the city's rich and famous history. 

It is a beautiful and peaceful place that pays tribute to the many individuals whose lives made an impact here in Birmingham. The cemetery held approximately 130,000 burials at the start of 2017.

Visitors Should Know:

Elmwood Cemetery & Mausoleum is open from 8 a.m. Admission is free, though donations are encouraged to keep the cemetery grounds and monuments. 

Visitors can select between self-guided and guided tours led by knowledgeable tour guides. And Guided tours must be scheduled in advance, with a minimum of 10 participants.

Want more knowledge about Elmwood Cemetery & Mausoleum? You can either visit the website at: http://www.elmwoodcemeterybham.com/index.html.

Or call (205) 251-9170 to schedule a guided tour or inquire about other services.