(Media release from the Georgia’s Rome Office of Tourism):
The Georgia’s Rome Office of Tourism will host the annual Where Romans Rest: In the Round at Myrtle Hill Cemetery on Sunday, October 15. Groups will be hosted at 3:00 pm and 4:30 pm.
This year, the event is inspired by Victorian era gatherings held in cemeteries; which were often considered a public park. Sunday afternoons would find families enjoying a picnic or an afternoon stroll through the cemetery. This year’s event will reflect that nostalgia. Surrounded by beautiful cemetery architecture, symbolism and one of the best views of Rome, patrons are asked to bring a folding chair or picnic blanket.
Participants will meet by the newly carved “Welcome Angel” on Myrtle Hill. Enter through the main gated entrance to the cemetery; located at Myrtle St SW. Walk straight up the road to the top of the first hill; your docent will meet you there.
Admission to the tour is $15 per person. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the Georgia’s Rome Welcome Center and Gift Shops located at 402 Civic Center Drive and 303 Broad Street.
The cemetery dates back to 1857 and is the final resting place for over 20,000 of Rome’s most notable residents including 368 Civil War graves, four US Congressmen, a Congressman of the Confederate States of America, a US Senator and Ellen Axson Wilson, wife of the 28th President of the United States. The Cemetery is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Guests are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes and clothing. Myrtle Hill Cemetery has paved and unpaved paths, some with steep slopes, stairs, and uneven surfaces. Strollers are not recommended. Parking for the event is located along Myrtle Street and at the Kingfisher Trail Head.
For event questions, call 706.295.5576 or visit RomeGeorgia.org/Tours for more information.