About this property
Old Gray Cemetery is the second-oldest cemetery in Knoxville, Tennessee. Established in 1850, the 13.47-acre (5.45 ha) cemetery contains the graves of some of Knoxville's most influential citizens, ranging from politicians and soldiers, to artists and activists. It is noted for the Victorian era marble sculpture and elaborate carvings adorning many of the grave markers and headstones. In 1996, the cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Named for English poet Thomas Gray, Old Gray Cemetery is an example of a so-called garden cemetery, a mid-19th-century style that sought the transition of graveyards from urban churchyards to quiet suburban plots. Unlike its crowded predecessor, the First Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Old Gray features spacious graves, grand monuments, and extensive vegetation, and its layout bears more resemblance to a public park. Playwright Tennessee Williams mentions Old Gray in his short story, "The Man in the Overstuffed Chair," and Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Peter Taylor alludes to the cemetery in his book, In the Tennessee Country. The cemetery was simply known as "Gray Cemetery" until 1892, when "New" Gray Cemetery was established about a mile away.
Location
Categories
Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Everything a full report reveals about Old Gray Cemetery
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Questions about this property
When was Old Gray Cemetery listed on the National Register?
Old Gray Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 4, 1996.
What type of historic resource is Old Gray Cemetery?
Old Gray Cemetery is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Old Gray Cemetery?
The period of significance for Old Gray Cemetery is recorded as the early_republic era, specifically around 1850.
Can I research the history near Old Gray Cemetery?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Old Gray Cemetery will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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An Aubrey US report for an address near Old Gray Cemetery will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.