Curbed O'Ween Day 8: Tour of Mount Elliott Cemetery

The last in a series of tours of Detroit burial grounds takes place Nov 7 at 2 pm inside Mount Eliott Cemetery on the east side. Preservation Detroit's tour will share the cemetery's unique history with visitors, including tales of "famous (and infamous) buried within Detroit's cemeteries." Detroit's original Catholic cemetery, Mount Elliott is also home to some truly lovely old mausoleums and tombstones.

The old Detroit cemetery is part of a Eastside Historic Cemetery District in conjunction with Elmwood Cemetery the Lafayette Street Cemetery. Mount Elliott began as the city's Catholic burial ground on 12 acres purchased in 1841. While we can't say for sure that the place is haunted, there is a spooky story associated with its construction. Robert Elliott, a local judge and architect who helped steer plans for the cemetery died in a construction accident before the place opened, and the name "Mount Elliott" was chosen in his honor.

Along with Judge Elliott, the cemetery is the final destination for many famous names from old Detroit: Colonel Jean François Hamtramck finds final rest there, along with 19th century Catholic writer Orestes Brownson and Detroit Mayor Jerome Cavanagh. The tour on the 7th is a walking tour, and will take place rain or shine. Tickets ($15-$20) are available in advance through the Preservation Detroit website. We'd advise locking that down ASAP—other tours in the series, including one scheduled for this Saturday at Mt. Olivet, have already sold out.

·Mt. Elliott Cemetery [Mt. Elliott Cemetery Association]
·Special Tours [Preservation Detroit]
·Eastside Historic Cemetery District [Detroit Historical Society]
·Mt. Elliott Cemetery [A Morbid Fascination]