During the summer months, we offer a two-hour walking tour of the Cemetery and Arboretum in the cooling hours before sunset. This tour will be led by one of our Master Guides who will convey highlights of the Cemetery grounds, horticulture, and a variety of intriguing historic figures who call Bellefontaine their final place of rest. Space is limited and reservations are required. Tours will cover about 2 miles across moderate terrain.  Please wear appropriate summer walking attire.  Tour capacity is limited so reservations are required.  Please arrive between 15 to 20 minutes before tour time for a prompt departure.  These tour tickets are free with a suggested donation of $5.00.   REGISTER NOW!   MAKE A GIFT Tours are free, however, donations to the Friends of Bellefontaine Cemetery are gratefully accepted. To make a gift to the Friends of Bellefontaine, email Joe Shields or call our office at 314-381-0750. Make a gift onlineVENMO: @FriendsofBellefontaineCemeteryPAYPAL: donations@bcastl.org

Sunrise Stroll: Discover Bellefontaine at Dawn What better way to experience the oldest Garden Cemetery west of the Mississippi than during the first light of day? Join us for a refreshing Sunrise Stroll in the tranquil morning hours. This free walking tour covers nearly two miles of moderate terrain across Bellefontaine’s 14-mile roadway. Each tour offers a unique blend of history, horticulture, iconography, and fresh discoveries of the Cemetery’s rich stories. Registration is required to attend. Space is limited. Secure your spot now! Tour Details: Tours will cover about 2 miles across moderate terrain.  Please wear appropriate summer walking attire and comfortable walking shoes Please bring essentials like sunscreen, a head covering, bug deterrent, bottled water, and a camera to capture the morning's beauty. Please arrive between 15 to 30 minutes before tour time for a prompt departure.  These tour tickets are free with a suggested donation of $5.00. Tours are available on select dates until Labor Day, running from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m.   REGISTER NOW!   MAKE A GIFT Tours are free, however, donations to the Friends of Bellefontaine Cemetery are gratefully accepted. To make a gift to the Friends of Bellefontaine, email Joe Shields or call our office at 314-381-0750. You can also make a gift at the event. Make a gift onlineVENMO: @FriendsofBellefontaineCemeteryPAYPAL: donations@bcastl.org

During the summer months, we offer a two-hour walking tour of the Cemetery and Arboretum in the cooling hours before sunset. This tour will be led by one of our Master Guides who will convey highlights of the Cemetery grounds, horticulture, and a variety of intriguing historic figures who call Bellefontaine their final place of rest. Space is limited and reservations are required. Tours will cover about 2 miles across moderate terrain.  Please wear appropriate summer walking attire.  Tour capacity is limited so reservations are required.  Please arrive between 15 to 20 minutes before tour time for a prompt departure.  These tour tickets are free with a suggested donation of $5.00.   REGISTER NOW!   MAKE A GIFT Tours are free, however, donations to the Friends of Bellefontaine Cemetery are gratefully accepted. To make a gift to the Friends of Bellefontaine, email Joe Shields or call our office at 314-381-0750. Make a gift onlineVENMO: @FriendsofBellefontaineCemeteryPAYPAL: donations@bcastl.org

Arboretum Tour – Summer Wildflower Walk Join one of our Horticulturists for a stroll in our most expansive garden, Wildwood Valley, and its surrounding areas. This tour will focus on the various annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees that come together within the garden to form a peaceful and relaxing composition. There’s always something in bloom at Wildwood Valley Gardens! Every horticulture tour is unique and will potentially cover different plants. Sign up for a tour now! This tour will be from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. It is free to attend with a suggested donation of $5.00. Space is limited and reservations are required. Please wear appropriate walking attire.  Please arrive between 15 to 20 minutes before tour time for a prompt departure.    REGISTER NOW!     MAKE A GIFT Donations to the Friends of Bellefontaine Cemetery are always gratefully accepted. To make a gift to the Friends of Bellefontaine, email Joe Shields or call our office at 314-381-0750. Make a gift onlineVENMO: @FriendsofBellefontaineCemeteryPAYPAL: donations@bcastl.org

Caravan Tour Join us for a guided caravan tour! Drive along in your car and follow the caravan led by our Master Guide Cathleen. We will drive to a few different locations inside historic Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum. At each location, we will all exit our vehicles and Cathleen will give us a tour through history! The adventure begins with a drive to our serene Wildwood Valley Gardens. We will walk the Gardens and visit the impressive Cascade Mausoleum, our newest mausoleum. The next stop is Prospect Avenue. The "movers and shakers" of the 1900s are buried there. The last stop is the area surrounding explorer William Clark's plot. This caravan tour is a unique way to explore the grounds and learn about some of the people memorialized at Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum. ♦   Space is limited and reservations are required ♦   Please wear appropriate outdoor walking attire as we will explore different areas upon leaving our vehicles. ♦   Walking terrain is mild with a mixture of hard and soft surfaces ♦   We ask that everyone arrive 15 to 20 minutes before tour time for a prompt departure ♦   This is a rain or shine event except in the case of extreme lightning REGISTER NOW! MAKE A GIFT Tours are free, however, donations to the Friends of Bellefontaine Cemetery are gratefully accepted. To make a gift to the Friends of Bellefontaine, email Joe Shields or call our office at 314-381-0750. Make a gift onlineVENMO: @FriendsofBellefontaineCemeteryPAYPAL: donations@bcastl.org

Sunrise Stroll: Discover Bellefontaine at Dawn What better way to experience the oldest Garden Cemetery west of the Mississippi than during the first light of day? Join us for a refreshing Sunrise Stroll in the tranquil morning hours. This free walking tour covers nearly two miles of moderate terrain across Bellefontaine’s 14-mile roadway. Each tour offers a unique blend of history, horticulture, iconography, and fresh discoveries of the Cemetery’s rich stories. Registration is required to attend. Space is limited. Secure your spot now! Tour Details: Tours will cover about 2 miles across moderate terrain.  Please wear appropriate summer walking attire and comfortable walking shoes Please bring essentials like sunscreen, a head covering, bug deterrent, bottled water, and a camera to capture the morning's beauty. Please arrive between 15 to 30 minutes before tour time for a prompt departure.  These tour tickets are free with a suggested donation of $5.00. Tours are available on select dates until Labor Day, running from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. REGISTER NOW!   MAKE A GIFT Tours are free, however, donations to the Friends of Bellefontaine Cemetery are gratefully accepted. To make a gift to the Friends of Bellefontaine, email Joe Shields or call our office at 314-381-0750. You can also make a gift at the event. Make a gift onlineVENMO: @FriendsofBellefontaineCemeteryPAYPAL: donations@bcastl.org

During the summer months, we offer a two-hour walking tour of the Cemetery and Arboretum in the cooling hours before sunset. This tour will be led by one of our Master Guides who will convey highlights of the Cemetery grounds, horticulture, and a variety of intriguing historic figures who call Bellefontaine their final place of rest. Space is limited and reservations are required. Tours will cover about 2 miles across moderate terrain.  Please wear appropriate summer walking attire.  Tour capacity is limited so reservations are required.  Please arrive between 15 to 20 minutes before tour time for a prompt departure.  These tour tickets are free with a suggested donation of $5.00.   REGISTER NOW!   MAKE A GIFT Tours are free, however, donations to the Friends of Bellefontaine Cemetery are gratefully accepted. To make a gift to the Friends of Bellefontaine, email Joe Shields or call our office at 314-381-0750. Make a gift onlineVENMO: @FriendsofBellefontaineCemeteryPAYPAL: donations@bcastl.org

Chart a Course Through History: NEW Steamboat Captain Trolley Tours at BCA! All aboard! Embark on our brand-new Steamboat Captain Trolley Tour and delve into the captivating stories of some of the nearly 200 river pioneers resting at Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum. Uncover the profound connections between legendary figures like Mark Twain and Henry Shreve and the burgeoning city of early St. Louis. What was a Steamboat Captain, and what drew so many of these enigmatic trailblazers of the waterways to choose Bellefontaine Cemetery as their final resting place? Join us for a fascinating two-hour journey through our scenic grounds as we try to answer these questions! This trolley tour is from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. ♦ Seating is limited and tickets are required.♦ We ask that everyone arrive 15 minutes early for a prompt departure.♦ The Trolley is climate controlled but weather-appropriate clothing is suggested as opportunities to disembark from the vehicle are available.♦ Trolley tour tickets are free with a suggested donation of $5 each. REGISTER NOW!     MAKE A GIFT Donations to the Friends of Bellefontaine Cemetery are always gratefully accepted. To make a gift to the Friends of Bellefontaine, email Joe Shields or call our office at 314-381-0750. Make a gift onlineVENMO: @FriendsofBellefontaineCemeteryPAYPAL: donations@bcastl.org

Horticulture Class –  Home Landscape Design and Practices for the Fall/Winter Season Join Horticulturists, Kaylyn Fleddermann and Lucy Swan, for a class on Home Landscape Design and Practices for the Fall/Winter Season. You will learn a few basic design principles, most importantly, how those principles can be applied to “off-season” work, landscape aesthetics, and wildlife sustainability.  You will be encouraged to think about color, form, maintenance practices,  and how much there is to enjoy in our curated landscapes year-round. This class will be from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. It is free to attend with a suggested donation of $15 per person. Space is limited and registration is required. Please wear appropriate walking attire. Please arrive at the main entrance between 15 to 20 minutes before class time for a prompt departure. Sign Up!   MAKE A GIFT Donations to the Friends of Bellefontaine Cemetery are always gratefully accepted. To make a gift to the Friends of Bellefontaine, email Joe Shields or call our office at 314-381-0750. Make a gift onlineVENMO: @FriendsofBellefontaineCemeteryPAYPAL: donations@bcastl.org

Sunrise Stroll: Discover Bellefontaine at Dawn What better way to experience the oldest Garden Cemetery west of the Mississippi than during the first light of day? Join us for a refreshing Sunrise Stroll in the tranquil morning hours. This free walking tour covers nearly two miles of moderate terrain across Bellefontaine’s 14-mile roadway. Each tour offers a unique blend of history, horticulture, iconography, and fresh discoveries of the Cemetery’s rich stories. Registration is required to attend. Space is limited. Secure your spot now! Tour Details: Tours will cover about 2 miles across moderate terrain.  Please wear appropriate summer walking attire and comfortable walking shoes Please bring essentials like sunscreen, a head covering, bug deterrent, bottled water, and a camera to capture the morning's beauty. Please arrive between 15 to 30 minutes before tour time for a prompt departure.  These tour tickets are free with a suggested donation of $5.00. Tours are available on select dates until Labor Day, running from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. REGISTER NOW!   MAKE A GIFT Tours are free, however, donations to the Friends of Bellefontaine Cemetery are gratefully accepted. To make a gift to the Friends of Bellefontaine, email Joe Shields or call our office at 314-381-0750. You can also make a gift at the event. Make a gift onlineVENMO: @FriendsofBellefontaineCemeteryPAYPAL: donations@bcastl.org

Arboretum Tour – Summer Wildflower Walk Join one of our Horticulturists for a stroll on our trails through our reconstructed prairie and woodland areas. This tour will focus on the various native plantings that make up these important urban wildlife habitats. There’s always something to discover in our reconstructed natural areas! Every horticulturist-led tour of our Arboretum is unique and will potentially cover different plants. Sign up for a tour or two today! This tour will be from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. It is free to attend with a suggested donation of $5.00. Space is limited and reservations are required. Please wear appropriate walking attire.  Please arrive between 15 to 20 minutes before tour time for a prompt departure.    REGISTER NOW!     MAKE A GIFT Donations to the Friends of Bellefontaine Cemetery are always gratefully accepted. To make a gift to the Friends of Bellefontaine, email Joe Shields or call our office at 314-381-0750. Make a gift onlineVENMO: @FriendsofBellefontaineCemeteryPAYPAL: donations@bcastl.org

During the summer months, we offer a two-hour walking tour of the Cemetery and Arboretum in the cooling hours before sunset. This tour will be led by one of our Master Guides who will convey highlights of the Cemetery grounds, horticulture, and a variety of intriguing historic figures who call Bellefontaine their final place of rest. Space is limited and reservations are required. Tours will cover about 2 miles across moderate terrain.  Please wear appropriate summer walking attire.  Tour capacity is limited so reservations are required.  Please arrive between 15 to 20 minutes before tour time for a prompt departure.  These tour tickets are free with a suggested donation of $5.00.   REGISTER NOW!   MAKE A GIFT Tours are free, however, donations to the Friends of Bellefontaine Cemetery are gratefully accepted. To make a gift to the Friends of Bellefontaine, email Joe Shields or call our office at 314-381-0750. Make a gift onlineVENMO: @FriendsofBellefontaineCemeteryPAYPAL: donations@bcastl.org

🚨 EVENT CANCELLATION NOTICE 🚨 Important Update: Due to anticipated excessive heat and for the safety and comfort of all participants, this event has unfortunately been CANCELED. Given the nature of this particular event, ensuring your well-being in these conditions is our highest priority. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to your plans and truly appreciate your understanding. Please stay tuned for information on our other upcoming events! SIPS, SOULS, & STROLLS 2025Washington University in STLFriday, August 15, 2025, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Join us for our third Sips, Souls, and Strolls event of 2025! Our topic for this event is Wash U. and St. Lou.St. Louis has been a beacon of education, advancement, and leadership in many fields. Our guides will show you the final resting places of just a few of the many individuals significant to Washington University who are eternally memorialized here at the Cemetery. Enjoy beer, wine, and light hors d’oeuvres as you stroll through the beautiful grounds of Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum. PLEASE NOTE: this is an after-hours event, and the gates will close promptly at 5:40 p.m. Space is limited, and reservations are required. Tickets are free with a suggested donation of $15 per person. You must sign up online and be pre-registered to attend this event. Reserve your tickets now! Get Tickets Now

Caravan Tour Join us for a guided caravan tour! Drive along in your car and follow the caravan led by our Master Guide Cathleen. We will drive to a few different locations inside historic Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum. At each location, we will all exit our vehicles and Cathleen will give us a tour through history! The adventure begins with a drive to our serene Wildwood Valley Gardens. We will walk the Gardens and visit the impressive Cascade Mausoleum, our newest mausoleum. The next stop is Prospect Avenue. The "movers and shakers" of the 1900s are buried there. The last stop is the area surrounding explorer William Clark's plot. This caravan tour is a unique way to explore the grounds and learn about some of the people memorialized at Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum. ♦   Space is limited and reservations are required ♦   Please wear appropriate outdoor walking attire as we will explore different areas upon leaving our vehicles. ♦   Walking terrain is mild with a mixture of hard and soft surfaces ♦   We ask that everyone arrive 15 to 20 minutes before tour time for a prompt departure ♦   This is a rain or shine event except in the case of extreme lightning REGISTER NOW! MAKE A GIFT Tours are free, however, donations to the Friends of Bellefontaine Cemetery are gratefully accepted. To make a gift to the Friends of Bellefontaine, email Joe Shields or call our office at 314-381-0750. Make a gift onlineVENMO: @FriendsofBellefontaineCemeteryPAYPAL: donations@bcastl.org

Sunrise Stroll: Discover Bellefontaine at Dawn What better way to experience the oldest Garden Cemetery west of the Mississippi than during the first light of day? Join us for a refreshing Sunrise Stroll in the tranquil morning hours. This free walking tour covers nearly two miles of moderate terrain across Bellefontaine’s 14-mile roadway. Each tour offers a unique blend of history, horticulture, iconography, and fresh discoveries of the Cemetery’s rich stories. Registration is required to attend. Space is limited. Secure your spot now! Tour Details: Tours will cover about 2 miles across moderate terrain.  Please wear appropriate summer walking attire and comfortable walking shoes Please bring essentials like sunscreen, a head covering, bug deterrent, bottled water, and a camera to capture the morning's beauty. Please arrive between 15 to 30 minutes before tour time for a prompt departure.  These tour tickets are free with a suggested donation of $5.00. Tours are available on select dates until Labor Day, running from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. REGISTER NOW!   MAKE A GIFT Tours are free, however, donations to the Friends of Bellefontaine Cemetery are gratefully accepted. To make a gift to the Friends of Bellefontaine, email Joe Shields or call our office at 314-381-0750. You can also make a gift at the event. Make a gift onlineVENMO: @FriendsofBellefontaineCemeteryPAYPAL: donations@bcastl.org

Sunrise Stroll: Discover Bellefontaine at Dawn What better way to experience the oldest Garden Cemetery west of the Mississippi than during the first light of day? Join us for a refreshing Sunrise Stroll in the tranquil morning hours. This free walking tour covers nearly two miles of moderate terrain across Bellefontaine’s 14-mile roadway. Each tour offers a unique blend of history, horticulture, iconography, and fresh discoveries of the Cemetery’s rich stories. Registration is required to attend. Space is limited. Secure your spot now! Tour Details: Tours will cover about 2 miles across moderate terrain.  Please wear appropriate summer walking attire and comfortable walking shoes Please bring essentials like sunscreen, a head covering, bug deterrent, bottled water, and a camera to capture the morning's beauty. Please arrive between 15 to 30 minutes before tour time for a prompt departure.  These tour tickets are free with a suggested donation of $5.00. Tours are available on select dates until Labor Day, running from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. REGISTER NOW!   MAKE A GIFT Tours are free, however, donations to the Friends of Bellefontaine Cemetery are gratefully accepted. To make a gift to the Friends of Bellefontaine, email Joe Shields or call our office at 314-381-0750. You can also make a gift at the event. Make a gift onlineVENMO: @FriendsofBellefontaineCemeteryPAYPAL: donations@bcastl.org

During the summer months, we offer a two-hour walking tour of the Cemetery and Arboretum in the cooling hours before sunset. This tour will be led by one of our Master Guides who will convey highlights of the Cemetery grounds, horticulture, and a variety of intriguing historic figures who call Bellefontaine their final place of rest. Space is limited and reservations are required. Tours will cover about 2 miles across moderate terrain.  Please wear appropriate summer walking attire.  Tour capacity is limited so reservations are required.  Please arrive between 15 to 20 minutes before tour time for a prompt departure.  These tour tickets are free with a suggested donation of $5.00.   REGISTER NOW!   MAKE A GIFT Tours are free, however, donations to the Friends of Bellefontaine Cemetery are gratefully accepted. To make a gift to the Friends of Bellefontaine, email Joe Shields or call our office at 314-381-0750. Make a gift onlineVENMO: @FriendsofBellefontaineCemeteryPAYPAL: donations@bcastl.org

Arboretum Tour – Wildwood Valley Garden Walk Join one of our Horticulturists for a stroll in our most expansive garden, Wildwood Valley, and its surrounding areas. This tour will focus on the various annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees that come together within the garden to form a peaceful and relaxing composition. There’s always something in bloom at Wildwood Valley Gardens! Every horticulturist-led tour of our Arboretum is unique and will potentially cover different plants. Sign up for a tour or two today!  This tour will be from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. It is free to attend with a suggested donation of $5.00. Space is limited and reservations are required. Please wear appropriate walking attire.  Please arrive between 15 to 20 minutes before tour time for a prompt departure.    REGISTER NOW!     MAKE A GIFT Donations to the Friends of Bellefontaine Cemetery are always gratefully accepted. To make a gift to the Friends of Bellefontaine, email Joe Shields or call our office at 314-381-0750. Make a gift onlineVENMO: @FriendsofBellefontaineCemeteryPAYPAL: donations@bcastl.org

Heroes I: Firefighters of St. Louis and Bellefontaine Cemetery Heroes can come from many different public service roles, such as firefighters, police officers, and military service members, just to name some of the most obvious. This first of a three-part exploration goes into detail concerning St. Louis's rich Fire Fighter heritage. Stating with early Volunteer forces and carrying up to the modern era, we will look at the area's rich history. St. Louis has a right to be proud of its Firefighter history, and those who helped form it should be remembered. REGISTER NOW! MAKE A GIFT Tours are free, however, donations to the Friends of Bellefontaine Cemetery are gratefully accepted. To make a gift to the Friends of Bellefontaine, email Joe Shields or call our office at 314-381-0750. Make a gift onlineVENMO: @FriendsofBellefontaineCemeteryPAYPAL: donations@bcastl.org

In the months of September, October, and November, we offer a two-hour walking tour of the Cemetery and Arboretum as the foliage transitions through the rich colors of Autumn. This tour will be led by one of our Master Guides who will convey highlights of the grounds, horticulture and a variety of intriguing historical figures who call Bellefontaine Cemetery their last address. Space is limited and reservations are required. Tours will cover about 2 miles across moderate terrain.  Please wear appropriate fall walking attire.  Reservations in advance are required, so you must sign up online. Please arrive between 15 to 20 minutes before tour time for a prompt departure.  This tour is free with a suggested donation of $5.   REGISTER NOW!       MAKE A GIFT Tours are free, however, donations to the Friends of Bellefontaine Cemetery are gratefully accepted. To make a gift to the Friends of Bellefontaine, email Joe Shields or call our office at 314-381-0750. Make a gift onlineVENMO: @FriendsofBellefontaineCemeteryPAYPAL: donations@bcastl.org

Off-site EventJoin Cemetery Chronicler Daniel Fuller and BCA volunteers for a free presentation on "Iconography at BCA," held at the Clark Family Branch in St. Louis, MO. Beyond the Gates: Iconography and Bellefontaine Cemetery and ArboretumIconography is the study or interpretation of images or symbols used on headstones, crypts, and mausoleums in a cemetery.Cemeteries are virtual encyclopedias of symbolism. The symbols on a person’s grave may help tell us something about their life. Grave markers not only record the dearly departed’s name and dates of birth and death, but the design can often indicate a person’s history, religion, ethnicity, culture, occupation, or social status, as well as their pleasures, sorrows, and hopes for the afterlife.This event is part of the St. Louis Library Local History Expo. Daniel’s presentation will begin at 11:30 a.m. in Room A of the Clark Family Branch, located at 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63131-3598. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, please visit the SLCL website.About the St. Louis Library Local History ExpoConnect with the history of your family and community! Representatives from over 40 St. Louis-area local historical societies and repositories will be available to discuss their work in documenting, preserving and promoting history. 10:00 am-2:00 pm. Adults. No registration required.Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.St. Louis County Library—Clark Family Branch1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63131-3598No registration required. Get more info here!For event questions, please reach out to the event venue.MAKE A GIFTThis presentation is free. However, donations to the Friends of Bellefontaine Cemetery are gratefully acceptedTo make a gift to the Friends of Bellefontaine, email Joe Shields or call our office at 314-381-0750.Make a gift onlineVENMO: @FriendsofBellefontaineCemeteryPAYPAL: donations@bcastl.org

Chart a Course Through History: NEW Steamboat Captain Trolley Tours at BCA! All aboard! Embark on our brand-new Steamboat Captain Trolley Tour and delve into the captivating stories of some of the nearly 200 river pioneers resting at Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum. Uncover the profound connections between legendary figures like Mark Twain and Henry Shreve and the burgeoning city of early St. Louis. What was a Steamboat Captain, and what drew so many of these enigmatic trailblazers of the waterways to choose Bellefontaine Cemetery as their final resting place? Join us for a fascinating two-hour journey through our scenic grounds as we try to answer these questions! This trolley tour is from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. ♦ Seating is limited and tickets are required.♦ We ask that everyone arrive 15 minutes early for a prompt departure.♦ The Trolley is climate controlled but weather-appropriate clothing is suggested as opportunities to disembark from the vehicle are available.♦ Trolley tour tickets are free with a suggested donation of $5 each. REGISTER NOW!     MAKE A GIFT Donations to the Friends of Bellefontaine Cemetery are always gratefully accepted. To make a gift to the Friends of Bellefontaine, email Joe Shields or call our office at 314-381-0750. Make a gift onlineVENMO: @FriendsofBellefontaineCemeteryPAYPAL: donations@bcastl.org