Cemetery of Angels

This post will interest my Houston friends more than anyone. I had the opportunity to take a tour of one of Houston's treasures this spring, and my friends and I were amazed that we had never seen or heard of this locale before now. 

We took a guided tour of Glenwood Cemetery, which was founded in 1871 and located in what was then a rural spot on the rolling banks of the Buffalo Bayou.

Classified as a romantic cemetery, the winding roads and gently rolling terrain today provide a beautiful setting for walkers, joggers and bicyclists, as well as being the tranquil resting place for many notables.

Although not as famous as London's Highgate Cemetery or Pére-Lachaise in Paris, it, nevertheless, is one of the most beautiful places I've seen in a long time.

Its roster of those interred reads like a Who's Who of the history of Texas and Houston. Locals will recognize many names on the tombstones, and I encourage you to check into the tours provided by Preservation Houston. At the least, pick up a brochure and guide at the office before striking out.

Bordered by Washington and Memorial Drive, the cemetery covers 85 acres, of which 18 acres are reserved for future development, so yes, you too, can be buried here.

In the shadow of downtown Houston, the cemetery is beautiful and so verdant, and boasts some of the oldest oak trees of Houston.

The cemetery is often known as the Cemetery of Angels, so without much comment, here are a few of the angels keeping watch.

An avenging angel guarding the grave of a murdered occupant.

And one of the most famous monuments of all, the Angel of Grief.

I highly recommend you take the time for a stroll--walking shoes advised- and see for yourself one of the most historical and beautiful locations in all of Houston.