Discover Bristol's Cemeteries on Driving Tour

Bristol, IN - On Saturday, October 25th the Elkhart County Historical Museum will lead a driving tour of Washington Township cemeteries. From 10:00am – 12:00pm participants will visit four cemeteries in Washington Township including: St. John Episcopal Cemetery, Oak Ridge Cemetery, Proctor-Heaton/Baptist Cemetery and Zion Lutheran Cemetery. The tour will be led by Curator of Education Rebecca Oestreich.

Participants will locate graves and hear the stories of American Revolutionary War soldiers, early Bristol settlers, abolitionists, murder mysteries, and victims of heartbreaking accidents. The driving tour will also pass and discuss a one room school, Charles Harker Second World War Memorial, and the 1848 Slave Catcher Trial Historical Marker.

The tour will also identify uniquely beautiful and ornate gravestones and describe the meaning of some common gravestone symbols. Participants will also have the opportunity to make rubbings of gravestones they find particularly attractive or meaningful and even try the “art” of using a dowsing rod to locate unmarked graves.

“Cemeteries are a fantastic source of local history”, says Oestreich, “You can learn so much, not just the genealogy of the people buried there, but also particular gravestone designs and even the history of the cemetery itself.”

The event is limited to 10 vehicles. Participants must pre-register by contacting Oestreich at 574-848-4322 or rebecca@elkhartcountyparks.org.

About the Elkhart County Historical Museum

The Elkhart County Historical Museum fosters appreciation and preservation of local history and culture through exhibits, educational programs, and an accessible library and archives.

The museum’s regular hours are 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. on Tuesday-Friday and 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. on Sundays. There is no charge for admission, but donations are accepted. For more information, please call the museum at (574) 848-4322. The museum is located at 304 W. Vistula (SR 120) in Bristol.