Historical walking tour of Oakwood Cemetery

A walking history tour of Oakwood Cemetery is planned Saturday, April 1, from 2 to 6 p.m.

Members of the Oakwood Restoration Committee will conduct tours every 20 minutes. Tours will include the history of the cemetery, along with visits to the grave sites of 10 important figures from the past.

The cemetery is located at the corner of Palace and Oakwood Streets in Tyler.

Living historians, dressed in period clothes, will portray these departed "spirits" during the presentation.

This is the second annual "Spirits of Oakwood," walking tour. It will be held during the Tyler Azalea and Spring Flower Trails. Cost is $5 per person.

The cemetery was established in 1849, and includes veterans from every American war, government officials - including one Texas governor - and members of Smith County's African American and Jewish communities. It is also the grave site of 231 unknown Confederate soldiers.

Funds from the "Spirits of Oakwood" walking tour are used to help repair broken monuments in the cemetery.

For more information, call (903) 593-4642.