Cemetery Salons

An idea can be a vine, the mind a garden…

Elmwood Cemetery is bringing the 19th-century salon to 2025 with Cemetery Salons, a space for nurturing freedom of thought, gentle curiosity, and sensitization to wonder. All who love to learn and discuss ideas are welcome to join us at Elmwood Chapel on the third Thursday of each month from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Each salon will feature opening remarks and a topic introduction from our salonnière, Kim Vodicka, followed by a brief performance or presentation related to a selected topic by special guests local to our community. The remaining time will be devoted to open discussion in the style of the classic salon, forming meaningful connections and forging links that guide us through life’s mysteries.

We will resume our salon series on Thursday, August 21st, with a presentation by Cemetery Row podcast host, Elmwood tour guide, and cemetery volunteer Sheena Barnett. Death will always be a fact of life, whether it's 1852 or 2025. But the way we die and grieve our loved ones has changed dramatically since Elmwood's founding. Learn about how death culture has transformed in the last 173 years, how late Memphians have wound up at Elmwood, and how mourning practices have changed.

Conversation to follow presentation. Additional guests TBA.

When all lies lost in the doomyard: bloom.