Memorial Park Cemetery (Memphis, Tennessee)

Sculptures of Dionicio Rodriguez at Memorial Park Cemetery
Entrance to the Crystal Shrine Grotto
Memorial Park Cemetery (Memphis, Tennessee) is located in Tennessee
Memorial Park Cemetery (Memphis, Tennessee)
Memorial Park Cemetery (Memphis, Tennessee) is located in the United States
Memorial Park Cemetery (Memphis, Tennessee)
LocationMemphis, Tennessee
Coordinates35°6′30.48″N 89°52′25.05″W / 35.1084667°N 89.8736250°W / 35.1084667; -89.8736250
ArchitectRodriguez, Dionicio
Architectural styleConcrete construction, imitating wood and natural rock. Artificial rock formations with caves.
NRHP reference No.90001867[1]
Added to NRHPJanuary 31, 1991
Pond and fountain next to the Crystal Shrine Grotto

Memorial Park Cemetery was founded in 1924 by E. Clovis Hinds on initial 54 acres (.22 km2).[2] It is located at 5668 Poplar Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee.

Different species of trees of different ages, as well as bushes, can be found throughout the cemetery, enhancing the atmosphere of a park-like setting.

The cemetery is noted for its Crystal Shrine Grotto, a hand-built cave depicting Biblical scenes built by artist Dionicio Rodriguez.

The cemetery is owned by the private death care industry company, NorthStar Memorial Group, based in Houston.

Crystal Shrine Grotto

In 1935 Mexican artist Dionicio Rodriguez was hired to beautify the park with sculptures. Annie Laurie's Wishing Chairchairman, Broken Tree Bench, Abrahams Oak, Pool of Hebron and Cave of Machpelah are some of the most important sculptures that can be found in different locations throughout the cemetery.[2]

In 1938 construction of the Crystal Shrine Grotto began. The grotto is a 60 ft (18.3 m) deep, hand-built cave in a hillside near the center of the cemetery, filled with 5 tons (4.5 t) of quartz crystal, hence the name Crystal Shrine Grotto. The grotto was completed after Rodriguez' death in 1955.[2] The shrines in the grotto illustrate the stages of "Christ's Journey on the Earth from Birth to Resurrection".

Since 1991, the Crystal Shrine Grotto has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places for Tennessee.

Notable burials

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Memorial Park Cemetery.
  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c Memorial Park Cemetery website
  3. ^ "Tennessee Newspaper Hall of Fame: James P. Alley". Archived from the original on December 7, 2009.
  4. ^ Wilson, Scott (2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons (3 ed.). Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. p. 68. ISBN 9780786479924.
  5. ^ Magness, Perre, Cohort of Butch, Sundance 'retired' here, Commercial Appeal, Memphis, January 12, 1995, page EC2