Historic Glenwood Cemetery Part I: Houston Before Oil tour

Please note that advance ticket purchase is required for this tour. We will not be able to accommodate walk-ups on the day of the tour.

Glenwood Cemetery, established in 1871 on rolling, wooded land near Buffalo Bayou, is one of the most beautiful outdoor spaces in Houston. It is also the resting place of scores of people who built Houston into the city we know today — railroad executives, bankers, politicians and architects, among many others.

This tour focuses on some of the notable men and women buried at Glenwood who were active in the city’s first decades. They include B.A. Shepherd, said to be the first professional banker in Texas; Henry Henke, whose grocery store grew into one of the largest supermarket chains in the area; and Paul Bremond, who built the city’s first railroad. Our two-hour, docent-guided tour explores their unforgettable stories as well as Glenwood’s beautiful landscape and elaborate monuments.

This tour route involves a good deal of walking, including the potential of crossing uneven ground and walking up and down steps. The route is not wheel-friendly and is not recommended for anyone with mobility issues. Please e-mail [email protected] with any specific accessibility questions.

Face masks are optional for all fully vaccinated individuals, including docents. We ask that tourgoers who are not fully vaccinated remain masked at all times during the tour, including at check in. This policy may change based on recommendations from the CDC and local health officials.

About the tour

Preservation Houston, in partnership with Glenwood Cemetery, offers public docent-guided walking tours of the cemetery four times a year. These tours are available by reservation only.



Tour times and dates are subject to change in the event a burial is scheduled on the date of the tour or in case of inclement weather. Time changes will be posted on the PH website, and those holding reservations will be notified as far in advance as possible.

Please note that the tours are walking tours. All vehicles will be parked inside the cemetery. The walking route covers approximately one mile. There are no public restrooms available at Glenwood.

Reservations for Glenwood Cemetery tours are limited and will be guaranteed on a first-come, first-served basis. There are no refunds for Glenwood tours.