Bellefontaine Cemetery

Bus Tours Available starting in April!

admin — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 18:00:14 +0000

Beer barons, statesmen, artists, entrepreneurs, pioneers in exploration, and human rights advocates are among the 87,000 who rest at Bellefontaine Cemetery. For the first time ever, Bellefontaine will offer docent led tours at regular scheduled times. Tours begin April 14^th at 1 pm. The tours will be held on the 2^nd and 4^th Saturdays of each month. Led by our knowledgeable volunteer docents on a small tour bus, these tours will include such notables as Explorer William Clark, Brewer Adolphus Busch, Poet Sara Teasdale and Writer William Burroughs.

See the historic architecture by such greats as: Louis Sullivan’s 1892 Wainwright Tomb; George Zolnay’s bronze statue at David Rowland Francis’s gravesite; and George Barnett’s Taylor Tomb. The entire history of St Louis can be told by a tour through this historic ground.

Touring at Louis Sullivan's Wainwright Tomb

WHAT: Tours of Bellefontaine Cemetery

WHEN: 2^nd & 4^th Saturday of the month starting April 14

TIME: 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm

WHERE: 4947 West Florissant Ave St Louis, MO 63115

COST: $10 call 314-381-0750 to reserve your seat!

Spring view at Bellefontaine Cemetery

Founded in 1849, this active burial place celebrates the lives of individuals who have shaped our world. This 314 acre park is the first rural cemetery west of the Mississippi, and is one of the nation’s finest examples of a garden cemetery. It is the final resting place of 87,000 permanent residents, including General William Clark, Adolphus Busch, Sara Teasdale and Thomas Hart Benton. Open to all, beautiful, timeless and still available.

Bellefontaine in the News

admin — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:04:49 +0000

St. Louis is to host the Titanic Centennial Weekend, April 13-15, 2012. Click here to learn more. And while in St. Louis, be sure to stop by Bellefontaine Cemetery to see all the Titanic connections that rest here.

Fall Newsletter

admin — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:44:14 +0000

Want to know what’s going on at Bellefontaine Cemetery? Click here to download our fall newsletter.

Bellefontaine Featured in Town & Style

admin — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 21:53:25 +0000

Pick up the new Town & Style for a great piece on the cemetery and our president, Nancy Ylvisaker PLUS a Nostalgia piece on the cemetery. Click here to read it online.

Tales from the Historic Bellefontaine Cemetery

admin — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 23:30:05 +0000

Come hear Carol Shepley and Nancy Ylvisaker speak at the Daniel Boone Library branch about Historic Bellefontaine Cemetery. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. Seating is limited; early arrival is recommended. For more information, click here.

New Notable Tour Booklet

admin — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:59:33 +0000

Announcing the NEW Notable Tour Booklet! Our circa 1981 (yes, 30 years old) has been updated and in FULL color. Added notables include: William S Burroughs (author Naked Lunch), William Greenleaf Eliot (founder Washington University), John Berry Meachum (Dred Scott’s Pastor), Edward Mallinckrodt Sr & Jr (founder Mallinckrodt Chemical Works), Henry Clay Pierce (Oil Baron), Edna Gellhorn (Suffragette), Irma Rombauer (author Joy of Cooking), & Max Starkloff (Activist for the disabled)! How’s that for NOTABLES! The tour map now has a shorter main tour and three extended routes for your touring pleasure. Maps are free and available in the office. Booklet is $5 and also in the office. Come see our trees putting on their fall show!

New Civil War Tour Booklet

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 14:58:21 +0000

Our new Civil War Tour Booklet is here! Written by Carol Shepley, this booklet covers 51 participants including union, confederate and civilians. A map will guide you to their locations and new markers have been placed to aid your tour. Only $3 and available at our office!

St. Louis Best Cemetery

admin — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:40:59 +0000

Whoo! We made the Riverfront Times Best of 2011 list as the ‘Best Cemetery’. Thank you. We’re flattered.

Teacher Open House

admin — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 15:00:38 +0000

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.

August 15, 1866

admin — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 18:01:10 +0000

Lest We Forget–In 1866, 18 people were buried at Bellefontaine, they all died of Cholera. Some names include: Mary Williams who was 16 years old, Ann Emery who was only 18 months old, Maria Gibbs who at age 10 was an orphan at 11th and North Market Streets, Clara Miller was 35, while Bessie Ewing age 4 and her brother, Robert age 2 months joined their Aunt Mary Ewing Newell age 27. Robert and Anna Emery, both 33 and married also died on this date. The task of burying so many people during an epidemic put a heavy work load on the cemetery staff. Payroll for this month was $1,638 for a Superintendent, 3 foreman and 45 laborers. Today we remember all of those who perished from Cholera and hope we never have epidemics like that again.

Inside masoleum