Learn more about the families that shaped Plymouth’s early history on the Parker’s Lake Cemetery tours this October. Photo: Alyse Midthun
This October offers three opportunities to learn about the families who played a role in building our community. The Parkers Lake Cemetery tours, offered through the Plymouth History Center, share some of the sagas that shaped the city’s early history. “Because [Parkers Lake Cemetery] is a city-owned cemetery, we have better documentation,” says historic site coordinator Ryan Barland. “We have a lot of primary sources that we can use to tell better stories and do a bit better research than you might be able to just do online.”
Starting at 5 p.m. October 1, 15 and 29, curious residents and local history buffs are invited to visit the cemetery overlooking Parkers Lake for a 90-minute walking tour, detailing well-known families, including Howe, Kreatz, Schiebe and the eponymous Parker. “The tours are pretty popular; last year, we had between 50 and 60 people for all of them, so there is a bit of a crowd,” Barland says. He also notes that these aren’t ghost tours. “We really try to make sure that it’s an all-ages thing,” he says.
It’s recommended that those interested in attending park at the Plymouth Public Works building and take the provided shuttle to the cemetery. Historic site coordinator Allison Hennes will lead groups through tombstones dating back to the 1800s, sharing stories and information about the founders of Plymouth. Register at history.plymouthmn.gov.
