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Evergreen Cemetery Walk

What is the Evergreen Cemetery Walk?

The Evergreen Cemetery Walk is a nationally-recognized, award-winning annual event that brings the voices of McLean County's history to life.

Costumed actors portray people from McLean County's past on the grounds of Evergreen Memorial Cemetery. Their stories illustrate the impact the people of McLean County have had on history—locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. Put on your walking shoes and bring your family to participate in this fascinating, outdoor theatrical program.

This event serves about 3,500 people, most of whom are students. It is a collaboration between the McLean County Museum of History, Illinois Voices Theatre, and Evergreen Memorial Cemetery.

Cemetery Walk partner logos

2023 Featured Characters

We have featured 203 people in the Cemetery Walk since 1995. To read biographies of individuals featured on past Cemetery Walks, visit our biographies page.

Blue, Richard
Richard Blue (1842-1921) was born in Ohio and came to Bloomington at age 9 with Judge Rayburn and his family. Blue joined the Union Army in 1865, serving as a musician in the 29th U.S. Colored Infantry.  After the Civil War, Blue worked as a janitor and door keeper for the Illinois General Assembly, was a barber in Bloomington, and was often a butler for large social events. He was heavily involved in community service and Black politics, including running for city alderman in Bloomington. Blue was also active in advancing Black literacy, helping start the “Bloomington Literary and Protective Association.”
Jones, Annie Ethel
Annie Ethel Jones (1899 – 1991) was a Black woman born and reared on a Mississippi farm, which her family owned. She married an older man and they moved to Bloomington in 1922 to be near one of his daughters. Jones began working as a housekeeper but dreamed of becoming a doctor. Instead, she took a correspondence course to become an LPN, working first at St. Joseph’s Hospital, then the McLean County Poor Farm working with older adults. Later, she also did private nursing for families in the community. An active community member, Jones was involved with the NAACP and her church, Wayman AME.
Kessler, Frances
Frances Kessler (1887 – 1975) had a passion for music and education. Music had always been an interest in her life, and she credited her family for that love and appreciation of music. Each of her immediate family members played a musical instrument, with Kessler playing the piano. She received her teaching certificate from ISNU in 1907, a bachelors in music education from IWU, and a masters in music education from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. She was the first in the nation to teach music appreciation and to integrate radio in the classroom while teaching in Bloomington public schools.
King, Samuel Noble
Samuel Noble (1834-1913) and Mary (Reed) King (1842-1928) were a force in the advancement of agriculture, and in the pursuit of educational and civic projects throughout Central Illinois. S. Noble was considered a “pioneer” farmer, particularly in the development of crop rotation practices and use of fertilizers. Mary (who had been an educator until her marriage) co-founded the McLean County Household Science Association, an organization that gave women educational opportunities to learn modern methods of household management. Upon his death, S. Noble deeded a generous part of his estate to underwrite the Jessamine Withers Home for Elderly Women, which was advanced by Mary with both her financial and personal involvement.
King, Mary Reed
Mary (Reed) King (1842-1928) and Samuel Noble (1834-1913) were a force in the advancement of agriculture, and in the pursuit of educational and civic projects throughout Central Illinois. Mary (who had been an educator until her marriage) co-founded the McLean County Household Science Association, an organization that gave women educational opportunities to learn modern methods of household management. S. Noble was considered a “pioneer” farmer, particularly in the development of crop rotation practices and use of fertilizers. Upon his death, S. Noble deeded a generous part of his estate to underwrite the Jessamine Withers Home for Elderly Women, which was advanced by Mary with both her financial and personal involvement.
Mayes, John Jackson
John Jackson Mayes, Jr., (1851 -1918) known as J.J., was engaged in the photography business, and had a reputation of being an artist with a camera. Canadian born, Mayes moved to the United States in about 1868, and three years later witnessed the “Great Chicago Fire.”  By 1877, Mayes had moved to Bloomington and established a photography business with Arthur Bell, eventually venturing out on his own and even teaching photography for a short time at IWU. He later went into the business of training and breeding racehorses, raising them in a barn he leased on Bloomington’s west side.
Rhymer, Paul
Paul Rhymer (1905-1964) a Bloomington High School graduate, was considered one of the great writers of the 1930s “script” radio shows with his popular “Vic and Sade,” which drew 7 million listeners for a show set in what was undeniably a fictionalized Bloomington. Prior to his radio days, Rhymer worked for the railroad, drove a cab, and was a reporter for the Pantagraph (where he was fired for fabricating stories).  A practical joker, Rhymer was a private person despite his outgoing manner. He is visiting from Lexington Cemetery in honor of the recognition by the Bloomington Young Men’s Club for “Paul Rhymer Day” in 1938.

Buy Tickets

Tickets for the in-person walk are available for purchase online, at the Museum's Cruisin’ with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center and Gift Shop, or at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery.

Tickets purchased will help support more than 2,000 students, chaperones, and older adults living in senior care facilities to participate in the Walk in-person and online.

We are not exaggerating when we say that we could not do any of this without you—our members—and your unwavering support.

For questions or issues with purchasing tickets, contact Candace Summers, Senior Director of Education.

Buy Virtual Walk Tickets


Tickets
By purchasing an in-person ticket, you agree to the terms and conditions as listed in our Ticket Holder Information.

Group tours the cemetery walk

Sponsors

The Museum is pleased to announce our sponsors for the 2023 Walk. Because of their support, the Museum can again ensure that over 2,000 students and chaperones, and additional older adults living in senior care facilities, are able to participate in this year’s Walk (whether in-person or online)! 

Without support from our sponsors and community members, we would not be able to fulfill the primary mission of this event—to educate local students on the historic significance of cemeteries.

Download our 2023 Sponsorship Information packet for information on becoming a sponsor. Download our 2023 Advertising packet for information on advertising in our playbill. For questions, contact Norris Porter. 

Featured Sponsors

Cumulus Media
Evergreen Memorial Cemetery
Illinois Prairie Community Foundation
Pantagraph Media
Linda Garbe

Premium Sponsors

CEFCU
Heartland Bank and Trust
Illinois Farm Bureau
MCK CPAs & Advisors
WGLT
Deanna Frautschi & Alan Bedell
StraightUp Solar
Bloomington-Normal Convention & Visitors Bureau

Basic Sponsors

McLean County Chamber of Commerce
Livingston & McLean Counties Building & Construction Trades Council
Bloomington Public Library

History of Evergreen Cemetery Walk

Evergreen Memorial Cemetery is one of the richest historical resources in our community. However, through the 1950s-1990s, the cemetery struggled with maintenance and vandalism. In 1986, vandals overturned 35 headstones—bringing the total to 200 for the previous two years; more vandalism occurred in September 1990. 

In an effort to prevent further vandalism, Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, McLean County Museum of History, and Illinois Voices Theatre developed the annual Evergreen Cemetery Walk to teach the community about the historical importance of cemeteries and the need to treat them with respect and reverence. Since the inception of the Walk, instances of vandalism have declined, but do continue. The goals of this program are to bring awareness of this problem to the public’s attention and foster respect for community cemeteries in the young people who participate.

Over the years, the Evergreen Cemetery Walk grew into an award-winning, nationally recognized interpretive program. It is often referred to as the "granddaddy" of all cemetery walks. Every year we bring the voices of McLean County's history to life. Costumed actors portray individuals representing all walks of life from the county's past on the beautiful grounds of Evergreen Memorial Cemetery. 

This event serves about 3,500 people (mostly students) every year. To date, we have featured 210 different individuals, whose stories illustrate the impact the people of McLean County have had on history – locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. In addition, the impact of the Walk can be felt throughout the state and nation.

During the COVID-19 pandemic the Walk was forced to navigate some major challenges. In 2020 we were forced to go fully remote, and in 2021 we went hybrid, with an in-person walk with reduced capacity and a virtual video option. We are proud that we were able to meet those challenges head on and continued to host the Walk. In fact, the addition of a virtual option has allowed for a new audience, who previously were unable to due to barriers such as mobility or geography, to enjoy the Walk.

Because of all of this, the Evergreen Cemetery Walk is better than ever. We plan to continue to provide a live in-person Walk in conjunction with a pre-recorded online video. Thank you to our partner Broadleaf Video Management for helping us present a quality virtual production.

Large group cemetery walk tour