Memorial Park Cemetery: My Favorite Fall Place

Posted by Tasha on October 28th, 2009 in Attractions, Free Stuff to Do

Today I unwittingly spent the morning at my favorite place to soak up the autumn season – Memorial Park Cemetery, in southeast Tulsa at the corner of 51st and Memorial.

I don’t routinely spend my morning hours wandering around historic cemeteries snapping photos. It’s just that, today, I drove by Memorial Park and was floored by the color bursting forth from the place. I just had to pull in and set off through these gorgeous trees on foot.

Wow. Can you blame me?

Then, as I was leaving, my car died.

In a cemetery. The week of Halloween.

Oh, the irony.

I thought that while I was waiting around to find out what the heck is wrong with my ride, I’d share these photos of what is, in my opinion, one of the best places for a short drive, stroll, meander, weather balloon ride or whatever else strikes your fancy when you’re craving some serious fall foliage.

Plus, Memorial Park Cemetery is a pretty rich place when it comes to Tulsa history. This cemetery, which sprawls over 260 acres that were well outside the city in the year of its founding in 1927, is now the site of some 54,000 graves. Some of the city’s oldest names – Helmerich, Marshall, Mayo and Mabee, just to name a few – are found there, immortalized in stately mausoleums, statues and monuments. Plus, Memorial Park is the resting place of the larger-than-life Bob Wills, as well as comedian Sam Kinison.

And you thought 51st and Memorial was a cultural dead zone. Ha! Pun totally (and shamefully) intended.

Where in the area do your falltime drives take you?

Tagged: attractions, autumn, cemetery, fall, foliage, free stuff to do, Halloween

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6 Comments to Memorial Park Cemetery: My Favorite Fall Place

karen

On October 28, 2009 at 10:54 pm

1

I just discovered this place, too, on Saturday – I was going to Akins Health Food Store and drove by the cemetary. Had to go in. Saw a few others taking photos, too!

We've had some gorgeous trees in Brookside. Twitpic'd a photo from this morning – 25th/Peoria. Couldn't resist. Breath-taking!

Wish I could have met you at PW's book signing last night! I wasn't there very long … books were sold out already. And I fell in the parking lot. Uh, 'nough said.
jenX

On October 29, 2009 at 1:27 am

2

this reminds me of fairlawn in okc
Mom Mayhem says:

On October 29, 2009 at 3:14 am

3

Great pics! Ooh that is ironic!- Car died in a cemetary Halloween week -At least it was during the day =D
Holly

On October 29, 2009 at 4:17 am

4

You came ended up with some gorgeous photos! I'm sorry to hear that your car died though, that would have been scary…

I lol'd at the weather balloon reference.
Tasha

On November 4, 2009 at 10:47 pm

5

Um, Karen? Are you okay? Falling isn't fun. I hope you're on the other side of it now.

Mom Mayhem. I KNOW. If that had happened at night, I might have had a chance to put to use all those times I practiced the Psycho scream. Yikes.

Tasha Does Tulsa.