National Experts Taking Closer Look at Glenwood Cemetery

Published on September 30, 2015

Officials of the National Association of Gravestones Studies will be on site at Glenwood Cemetery on Saturday, October 3 at 2pm joining the City of Huntsville’s effort to survey more than 1,100 historic gravestones in the cemetery. Established in 1870 Glenwood Cemetery is the oldest surviving intact African-American cemetery in the City of Huntsville.

Alabama A&M University Urban Planning Department and The University of Alabama Anthropology Department will be onsite also to answer questions and train volunteers who might be interested in working to help complete the ongoing survey during upcoming work days.

The City of Huntsville Cemetery Department plans to nominate Glenwood Cemetery for listing on the National Register of Historic Places once the gravestone survey is complete.

More than 30 local volunteers have been working since September to document the gravestones and the historical significance of the cemetery. These groups as well as other volunteers plan to hold another work day on National Make a Difference Day on October 24.