Quinette Cemetery facts for kids

Quinette Cemetery is a special place in Kirkwood, Missouri, which is a town near St. Louis. It's a historic landmark and a burial ground for African-American people. This cemetery is important because it tells a big part of history.

Discovering Quinette Cemetery's Past

Quinette Cemetery was started in 1866. It was first connected to the Olive Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Kirkwood. In 2002, the city of Kirkwood took over the care of the cemetery. It covers about 2.7 acres, which is like two and a half football fields! While there are 25 marked graves, experts believe that between 150 and 200 people are buried here. The oldest known burial dates all the way back to 1853.

Who Is Buried Here?

This cemetery is the final resting place for many important people. You can find African-American soldiers who fought in the American Civil War here. There are also people who were once enslaved but later became free. Plus, veterans from World War II are buried at Quinette. It's known as the oldest African-American cemetery west of the Mississippi River.

Other Important Cemeteries Nearby

Quinette Cemetery is not the only historic African-American cemetery in the area. Other important ones include Washington Park Cemetery, which started in 1920, Father Dickson Cemetery from 1903, and Greenwood Cemetery, established in 1874. Each of these places helps us remember the history and lives of many people.