Looking for a Civil War unit for your 8-12th grade class? Join us for an open house Saturday, August 27 from 10:00am – 1:00pm. During your visit, you will learn how to use the cemetery in your classroom plus take away on a flash drive– the complete unit of study, including primary sources!
This teacher open house features:
- Tour of cemetery by author Carol Ferring Shepley
- Complete unit of study including primary sources for grades 8-12
- Discussion of unit with Rockwood history teacher, Lauren Schoellhorn
- Lunch in the historic Hotchkiss Chapel
- An inside peak of tombs including Wainwright and Lemp.
Bellefontaine Cemetery, founded in 1849 is the first rural cemetery west of the Mississippi, and is one of the nation’s finest examples of a garden cemetery. Resting in peace among our 314 acres of rolling hills are 115 officers from the Civil War. Next to them lie civilians who took a leading role in this great conflict.
As the 150th anniversary celebration begins, we honor the Union and Confederate soldiers who fought in some of the great battles for this nation’s soul. More Civil War Medal of Honor winners are buried here than at any other cemetery in St Louis. Among the citizens of importance are three governors of Missouri, four mayors of St Louis, the highest ranking Confederate General, one member of President Lincoln’s cabinet and three Confederate congressmen.
A museum of the finest sculpture and memorial art, Bellefontaine Cemetery remains to this day the legacy of one of the country’s most noted 19th century landscape architects, Almerin Hotchkiss. Amid the silent beauty he designed, you may reflect upon the deeds and sacrifices of these historic persons. The unit was put together by Lauren Schoellhorn, docent at Bellefontaine Cemetery for three years, besides teaching history at Rockwood School District.
Please contact us to save a space for you at 314-381-0750 or email Jean Steck.
