Old Gray Cemetery, Historic cemetery in Knoxville, Tennessee
Old Gray Cemetery is a cemetery in Knoxville that spans 14 acres and is recognized as an arboretum. The grounds feature large oak and hackberry trees alongside various graves, ranging from simple headstones to elaborately carved monuments and mausoleums.
The cemetery was established in 1850, with its first graves sold at a public auction in 1852. The grounds were developed following the garden cemetery movement of the 19th century and hold graves of Civil War veterans, politicians, artists, and the city's early settlers.
The cemetery takes its name from English poet Thomas Gray, whose works explored themes of mortality and reflection. This naming choice reflects how the space was designed as a place for remembering and contemplating life's journey.
Located in downtown Knoxville on North Broadway Street, the cemetery is open to the public during daylight hours. The paths are easy to walk and marked with signs and plaques that help visitors navigate and learn about the history of those buried here.
A remarkable incident in 1882 resulted in three deaths on a single day when men named Mabry and banker O'Conner became involved in a gunfight that gained the attention of writer Mark Twain. This unusual story remains part of local history and shows how the cemetery holds both everyday and dramatic moments from the city's past.
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