How often have you heard the cliché: "...where history comes alive"? On the nights of October 16 and 17, in the Village of Palmyra NY Cemetery, cliché becomes reality!
Historic Palmyra proudly presents the 11th Annual Famous Cemetery Tour. Join your hostess, 120-year-old Sibyl Phelps, as she coaxes the famous—and infamous—from their eternal slumbers, to share stories of their lives, their kin, and their regard for Palmyra, "Queen of Canaltowns."
Your trek through history will bring you face to face with several important spirits--local, national, and international movers and shakers all--whose lives are forever linked to local lore. From publishers and police chiefs to presidents to prime ministers, Palmyra is the one common point, connecting them all.
Among the featured spirits, you'll meet local luminaries such as Palmyra banker and benefactor Pliny Sexton, Book of Mormon publisher EB Grandin, abolitionist Reverend Horace Eaton, Congressional translator Lavinia Chase, and "King of Wall Street" Leonard Jerome, who also happened to be the maternal grandfather of a special overseas guest, named in 2002 by the BBC as "The Greatest Briton" of them all!
However, Palmyra and the nation have not been without heartbreak, too. 150 years ago, at 2:15am on April 27, 1865, a special train bound for Springfield, Illinois, providing one final passage home for a perished president, paused in Palmyra to take on wood and water. In commemoration of the sesquicentennial anniversary of this somber event, President Abraham Lincoln, himself, accompanied by Union Army troops, will be in attendance to share his story.
Two guided walking tours, commencing at 6:30pm and 8pm each night, will be offered, followed by cider and snacks. The Palmyra NY Village Cemetery can be found at 272 Vienna St, with both on-street and cemetery parking available. All ages are welcome, but organizers ask that children be accompanied by adults. In the unlikely event of severe weather, the tour may move indoors to the Historic Palmyra Museum Complex, starting at 132 Market St.
Tickets are $10 each and are available from Historic Palmyra's office, board members, and cast, or by calling (315) 597-6981 to hold for pick-up on the night of the tour. All proceeds benefit the museums and programs of Historic Palmyra.
