I hope you’ve been keeping up with my Marietta, Ohio posts! I had such a fun time, and I’ve been enjoying sharing more about Marietta with you all. This time I’m sharing a couple of very unique places: Mound Cemetery and Peoples Mortuary Museum.
Mound Cemetery and Peoples Mortuary Museum
Mound Cemetery
Though a cemetery is not a unique place, Mound Cemetery is quite unique in a few different ways. The first, and most obvious way, is this conical mound. The fact that it still exists tells us a lot about the early settlers in Marietta. They didn’t level it the way that many mounds in NE Ohio were leveled, so they recognized it as having historical significance. When the settlers arrived, they actually made provisions for the preservation of the mounds in the area.
This mound was partially excavated in the 1900s. I remember visiting mounds when I was in school, though I’m not sure if it was this one or not. Our tour guide said that although it was at first believed that these mounds were burial places for chiefs of a Native American tribe, this isn’t the case. That’s what I’d always believed too.
Other mounds that have been excavated have been found to contain not only male bones, but also female bones and children’s bones. Perhaps these were all members of important clans in the tribe. I think mounds like these are fascinating. If you want to learn more about them, there is a great amount of information available online just by searching. Hidden Marietta also offers an Ancient Earthworks tour of these mounds.
Another fact that makes this cemetery unique is the fact that it is the location of the largest number of Revolutionary War officers buried here. There are soldiers from almost every American war buried here. It really is a fascinating place to visit if you enjoy history and Native American culture.
We visited one other mound in the area which was most likely a ceremonial mound. In fact, a path leading directly from the mound lines up exactly with the Winter Solstice. It is amazing how the Native Americans didn’t need clocks or calendars or smartphones or Google to tell them things. I’m pretty sure they were much smarter than we are now!
Peoples Mortuary Museum
One of the first things you will see when you walk into The Peoples Mortuary Museum is a 1927 Henney Hearse. This Henney is a movie star and starred in the 2009 movie “Get Low” with Bill Murray, Robert Duvall and Sissy Spacek. Once you get the story about “Miss Henney” you’ll see several other vehicles and other items associated with the history of mortuaries and death.
Photo by Tonya Prater
This is an 1895 Horse Drawn Hearse. Back in those days, a hearse also served as an ambulance. The signs were just changed accordingly! The basket underneath the hearse has an interesting story. When someone died and needed to be removed from the home, they were often put in a basket like this to be carried out of the home. I say, “needed to be removed” because most of the time, the funerals were held in the home.
Funerals were often held in the parlor of a home. It is said that children were often scared to go into the parlor because the name was associated with death (funeral parlor), so we no longer call our “living rooms” parlors. Notice the difference. One name is associated with death and the other with living. I thought that was a pretty cool fact.
More photos from Peoples Mortuary Museum
Thanks to Tonya Prater for sending me these photos since my camera died partway through the tour!
This really was a very interesting tour especially for people who love history and science. You learn a lot of really cool facts too. Be sure you call ahead for a tour to be sure that someone is available to guide you.
They can be reached at 740-373-1111.
I love visiting cemeteries. Well, the really old ones at least. We have the Pilgrim cemetery here in Plymouth, so I love the history in there.
I’ve been to that cemetery. I love old cemeteries too. All of the history is amazing.
I love anything that has to do with history. Anything that will bring history back to life so that you can see what it was like back then I totally love. My niece is in the history big time too I would love to take her here.
She would love it! They’ve got an archeology camp for kids and one for teens/adults too! I’d love to do that.
Have to be honest and from the titles of these places I wouldn’t think they would be interesting places to visit. After reading and seeing your photos I would visit here in a heart beat.
I know! They were so interesting!
I am a HUGE revolutionary war buff! I would love to visit them in person, You made it look amazing!
That is awesome! You’d love finding all of the graves then.
That is a good place to visit. I love history and museums but those tools in the picture scares me. Anyhow, thanks for posting this, now I know about that funeral parlor thing. All this time I have no idea where did it come from, really.
I thought that was so interesting about the parlor being changed to living room!
I had no idea that hearses were also used as ambulances. That’s pretty convenient in case they died en route.
I know, I wondered if they changed the sign on the way!
I’m always interested in learning more about history. It’s always interesting to see and witness stuff that used to go on in the past. I know my friends would absolutely enjoy a trip to this place.
I love hearing about the past too.
The Peoples Mortuary Museum looks like an interesting place to explore. I will have to look into going the next time I am in the area.
It really is!
Wow there is certainly some history here. What a great learning experience this would be to visit.
It was a really interesting trip!
My best friend’s husband would LOVE this place! I will definitely have to share this post with her, and they would probably plan a visit.
That is great!
The mounds are really interesting. I must agree that the people who lived centuries ago did not have any gadget or whatnots but they knew more than we do now! Honestly, I felt a little freaked out with the mortuary museum displays. Having lost so may loved ones, I don’t feel comfortable with topics about dying and death. 🙁 Just my thoughts though.
It is amazing how they figured things out back then without all of the technology we have now!
The mound cemetery would be a nice place to visit for people who are really into history. My husband would love to go there. He is my very own history encyclopedia! I have to remember to drop by if and when we get to Marietta, OH.
Yes, definitely! He’d really enjoy all of the mounds in the area.
Everyone in my family loves history. We love visiting museums and historical places so these places would be indeed on our places to visit. Thanks for sharing these awesome places and the history.
It is really a unique place. You’d enjoy it!
I would be absolutely fascinated by this sort of thing, it is amazing to see how things used to be done.
I agree! It was so cool.
Sounds like an interesting place to visit and learn a lot about our history. How neat that there are so many soldiers buried there.
Yes, it was so cool to see.
i would have never thought about them having just such a museum. It does look like it would be fascinating to go to.
It was very cool to hear the history.
I know that most people would not think to visit a cemetery on vacation, but some of them contain so much history. I know my son would love exploring the Revolutionary War Officer’s graves.
The older ones are so interesting.
I had no idea there were such things as mortuary museums. I would totally visit!
It was so cool!