More than a morbid curiosity
BCHS Cemetery Tours remain popular for both young and old
Pfaender: The grave stone for Col. William Pfaender, who was the founding father of the New Ulm Turnverein. His grave is located in the pioneer section of the New Ulm Cemetery. —photo by Jenny Filzen
Harkin: The headstone for Alexander Harkin, buried in the pioneer section of the New Ulm Celmetery. In 1870, Harkin built at general store in the town West Newton, near present day County Road 21. —photo by Jenny Filzen
Schell: The tree stump grave stone rest over the Schell’s plot. August Schell was the founder of the Schell’s Brewery. His is one of the local celebrities graves on Sunday’s Cemetery Tour. —photo by Jenny Filzen
Pfaender: The grave stone for Col. William Pfaender, who was the founding father of the New Ulm Turnverein. His grave is located in the pioneer section of the New Ulm Cemetery. —photo by Jenny Filzen
Harkin: The headstone for Alexander Harkin, buried in the pioneer section of the New Ulm Celmetery. In 1870, Harkin built at general store in the town West Newton, near present day County Road 21. —photo by Jenny Filzen
Schell: The tree stump grave stone rest over the Schell’s plot. August Schell was the founder of the Schell’s Brewery. His is one of the local celebrities graves on Sunday’s Cemetery Tour. —photo by Jenny Filzen
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NEW ULM -- What started as a Halloween session on cemetery etiquette for New Ulm children in the 1990's has continued to this day a very popular New Ulm Cemetery Tour by the Brown County Historical Society.
During the initial session, it was the children's parents who asked guide and Research Librarian Darla Gebhard if a tour could also be created for adults. Gebhard wrote the original script for the Cemetery Tour and has continued to edit and improve it as more information becomes known.
"There has been significant improvements in research and new information about diphtheria or military stories which have been added to the tour" said Gebhard.
Creepy cemetery tours happen at night but most historical tours that highlight the significant people, events and history of a community happen during the day. Guides tell stories, point out details and explain the various styles and symbols found on gravestones. While this opportunity is interesting to those who live in the community around the cemetery, there is also interest in cemetery tours resulting in "cemetery tourism" or "tombstone tourists".
Tours at Westminster Abbey focus on the royalty buried there as well as the resting places of famous people like Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling and John Keats. Mark Twain called the cemeteries in New Orleans "City of the Dead" because of the unique above-ground crypts that create a grid pattern similar to city blocks.
Tourists on the New Orleans tour walk among the crypts and guides will point out the architectural influences and styles from the last 300 years. For about $30, one can ride a 6-seat golf cart around The Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah which was made famous by the cover of the book "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" by John Berendt.
Every cemetery has it's unique features and stories, most would agree that they are important cultural sites with traditional and religious significance. The Brown County Historical Society has provided this event for 6th grade history tours, for Network New Ulm leadership groups, by special request and during the Dakota War Week Commemoration in August.
Gephard estimates that over 5,000 people have taken the New Ulm Cemetery Tour since its inception. The New Ulm Cemetery is also the focus of the latest book by Elroy Ubl, "New Ulm's Outdoor Museum".
During the 2023 US - Dakota War Commemoration events, there will be guided tours of the Pioneer Section of the New Ulm Cemetery on Sunday, August 20th at 2:00 p.m.
Those wishing to participate in the tour should gather at the New Ulm Cemetery maintenance building shortly before 2:00 p.m., and bring water, sunscreen and hats or umbrellas. In the case of bad weather, the tours will be cancelled. The tour will be about one hour in length.
The events of the 2023 US-Dakota War Commemoration through the Brown County Historical Society are sponsored by the Junior Pioneers of New Ulm & Vicinity and information can be found on the www.browncountyhistorymn.org