Please note that advance ticket purchase is required for this walking tour. Scroll down or click here to register.
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.
This two-hour, docent-guided tour looks at the lives and legacies of some of the men and women buried at Glenwood who shaped Houston after the turn of the 20th century. They include oilmen R.L. Blaffer and Ross Sterling, who were among the founders of Humble Oil (later ExxonMobil), and Howard Hughes, the legendary billionaire whose family fortune was built on oilfield services. We'll also discuss figures including East Texas lumberman W.T. Carter, insurance magnate John L. Wortham, Texas Governor William P. Hobby and Sarah Campbell Blaffer, the noted art collector who was an heiress of two oil fortunes. As we learn their stories, we'll also enjoy Glenwood's beautiful grounds and 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 us with any specific accessibility questions.
Face masks are optional for all fully vaccinated individuals, including docents. We require 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.
Pricing and registration
Tickets are $10 for Preservation Houston members and students and $15 for general admission. Purchase your tickets below:
This program is made possible with funding from Humanities Texas and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the federal ARP Act.
Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.