Houston Cemetery Tours

This is a great tour if you like history, art, hauntings, and culture. We will discuss notable people, what to look for in evaluating stained glass and inaccurate details in carvings, and burial practices.

1. 1

   Glenwood Cemetery

   1.5 hours

   This is the most prominent cemetery in Houston with some of the most distinguished people in Houston history. It was the first chartered cemetery in Texas in 1872. It was the first professionally landscaped in Texas. Among the dignitaries buried here are early philanthropist George Hermann, the wealthiest man in the world Howard Hughes, actress Gene Tierney, former governor Ross Sterling, and the Hobby family as in the airport and performing arts center. From Glenwood, we will also enter and tour the German Cemetery that is attached to it. We will see the only woman who won a Congressional Medal for her service in the American Civil War.

2. 2

   Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home Forest Park Lawndale

   2 hours

   This is one of the most beautiful and largest cemeteries in the US. It has over 122 acres. It has dozens of statuaries including a 20 foot long x 10 foot high carving of The Last Supper and a 3 foot high image of the face of Jesus that appears to turn and follow you. It also has 2 Tiffany stained glass windows in a mausoleum. It also has notable famous and infamous people including guitarist Lightnin' Hopkins, former Senator Lloyd Bentsen, former mayor Oscar Holcombe, pick-axe killer Karla Faye Tucker, Mellie and Niels Esperson, and the greatest civic leader in Houston's history Jesse H. Jones. It has headstones with images of Batman and Spiderman. The cemetery has rolling hills, a lake, and ducks in it.

3. 3

   Stop 3

   20 min

   This is the oldest African-American Cemetery in Houston. It is in the neighborhood of Harrisburg which originally was a separate city. It predates the existence of Houston. It has former enslaved people, folks who were born in the 1700s, and veterans of the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War. It has been abandoned since 1967. With the advent of integration, Blacks began paying to be buried in professionally operated cemeteries.

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• When we are in a cemetery, we ALWAYS have to be deferential to any mourners and for any funeral or burial activities that may be about to begin or are onging. We might have to skip an area where a ceremony is about to begin or in progress. Please talk quietly and do not create a disruption.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.