| Evergreen Cemetery | |
| Map Type: | USA Tennessee |
| Established: | 1872 |
| Country: | U.S. |
| Location: | 519 Greenland Drive Murfreesboro, Tennessee |
| Coordinates: | 35.8706°N -86.3786°W |
| Type: | Public, City |
| Owner: | Evergreen Cemetery Commission City of Murfreesboro, Tennessee |
| Size: | 90 acre |
| Graves: | ~20,000 |
| Findagraveid: | 11834 |
| Politicalgeo: | TN/RU-buried.html#cms01975 |
Evergreen Cemetery is a 90acres cemetery located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.[1] The cemetery began as a slave cemetery until its owner Dr. James Maney (the owner of Oaklands Plantation), deeded a 20acres portion of his land to the city of Murfreesboro in 1872 to replace the "Old City Cemetery" which is located near downtown Murfreesboro.[2] [1] The cemetery is the final burial place for many notable people from Tennessee and the grounds are home to centuries old maple, oak and magnolia trees. Some of the trees pre-date the cemetery and a number of the headstones are more than 140 years old.[1]
Evergreen Cemetery is governed by a 34-member board of directors and its current chair is John Rucker Jr. who has served on the board for over 24 years.[3]
It is located at 519 Greenland Drive.[4] Tours of the cemetery, presented by Oaklands Mansion, are also held each year.[2] [5]
The Confederate Circle, a mass gravesite, was established in 1890. In 1891, remains of Confederate soldiers were gathered from burial locations across the area, including the "Old Confederate Cemetery" located about south of Murfreesboro,[6] and reinterred here. Some 2,000 – about 90% unnamed – soldiers, are buried in the Circle.[7] [6] The perimeter of the Circle is marked by stone posts bearing the names of each of the Confederate States. Individual burial markers for some of the known dead are located near the corresponding state posts.
The Circle is the site of several observances and memorials throughout the year for local Sons of Confederate Veterans Camps, including Camps #33 and #1355.[7] [6]