Cemetery Tours

**Reservations made in advance are required**

The 1850 Manatee Burying Ground is the oldest public cemetery in Manatee County. It was the first burying ground for the Village of Manatee, the first established community between Tampa and Key West dating to 1842. The Burying Ground was in use from 1850-1892 with a few family burials occurring up until the 1960s.

Here is your chance to schedule a daytime tour in advance and visit the Burying Ground with a member of staff. Appropriate clothing and footwear is encouraged. Tours take place outside with natural elements and will include long periods of standing and walking, uneven ground, and exposure to sunlight and rain. At staff discretion, tours may be canceled due to inclement weather. Tour content will vary by staff member – each staff member has chosen certain stories that they find the most interesting.

Please view the SignUp to see which tours are given by each staff member:
“Passing Ways” with Allyson – how some people in the Village of Manatee passed on.
“Wealth & Misfortune” with Krystin – some of the more surprising stories of the Village of Manatee.
“Veteran Virtues” with Jeff – information about military personnel related to the Village of Manatee.
“Dignified After Death” with Rachel – how life in the Village of Manatee is reflected in death and burial.

When: These tours will be available only on select days: March 1-5 and March 15-19.
Tours will be approximately 20 minutes in duration and will take place at 9:30am and 10:30am on these dates. Space is limited. There will be four (4) slots per tour and must be scheduled in advance. Tours are FREE but reservations are required.

**How To Sign Up**:
Reservations can be made online at the link below:
​
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0B4FABAB28A3F58-cemetery5
​
You may also call us and a staff member will assist you over the phone at (941) 749-7165.
​
Cost: There is no cost to sign up and attend a cemetery tour.
for more information, visit: https://www.manateevillage.org/events