Archaeology Now’s 7th Annual SCI Cemetery Heritage Tour Goes to Galveston’s City of the Dead

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Hear Tales from Galveston’s City of the Dead During Archaeology Now’s Seventh Annual SCI Cemetery Heritage Tour on October 26th

Just in time for Halloween, Houstonians can visit some of Galveston’s oldest and most historic cemeteries on a one-of-a-kind walking tour

ABOUT THE TOUR

The event, sponsored by Service Corporation International (SCI),  is part of the organization’s Heritage Cemetery Tour Series and takes place on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Participants will meet at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery, located at 6900 Lawndale St. in Houston and travel by bus to Galveston. The first stop will be Broadway Cemetery where many well-known citizens of Galveston and Texas are laid to rest.

 “This year Archaeology Now is focusing on stories and how they connect us to the past and to each other,” said Becky Lao, executive director of Archaeology Now. “We think visiting the gravesites of those who’ve gone before us and learning their stories is a way to appreciate the past and how it influences how we work, live and play in current times.”

ON THE TOUR

The tour is led by historian Kathleen Maca, a freelance writer and photographer with a love for Texas history, travel, historic architecture, genealogy, and old cemeteries.  Ms. Maca will relate tales of famous, and infamous, early settlers of Galveston, once the second richest city in the US and populated by many colorful characters.  Many of these individuals were important in the founding of Texas as well.

Following the tour of Broadway Cemetery, the tour group will lunch at Gaido’s, one of Galveston’s oldest restaurants and then visit the home of Michael Menard, one of the island’s founders.  Also known as The Oaks, it was built in 1838 and is the oldest surviving structure in Galveston.

TICKET INFORMATION & DETAILS

The cost, which includes round-trip bus travel from Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery, tour guides, lunch, and afternoon refreshments at the Menard House is $75. Reservations must be prepaid in advance and no refunds will be offered if unable to participate. Tickets can be purchased by phone at 713-364-6344 or via PayPal at paypal.me/houstonarchaeology.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about Archaeology Now and the 2019/2020 season, visit www.archaeologynow.org.

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