Today I went to the Stockton Rural Cemetery, see map, to visit some family who where laid to rest there.  I have been thinking of featuring the cemetery for sometime now, so I thought with the 4th of July coming it would be a good time to do so.  There are many in the cemetery who fought for the U.S.A., and this weekend would be a great time to honor them.

In the past I never really spent the time to marvel at the massive and artistic monuments of many of Stockton’s past leaders and dignitaries.  Walking around the cemetery, I recognized many names.  Many of them are also street names throughout Stockton.  Shippee, Davis and Sperry, to name few.

The cemetery opened in 1861 and is still beautiful.  Visitors are welcome to walk around during the day.  The office is open during the weekdays and on Saturdays and they do provide a map of the cemetery.  One great part of the cemetery is an area called “Millionaires Row“.  Millionaires Row has monuments some of Stockton’s richest founders.  One of the most famous of the persons lied to rest in the cemetery is Benjamin Holt, inventor of the Caterpillar tractor.  The tombs are really ornate and are mostly carved from granite.

Access to the tomb’s are easy as the roads inside are well maintained.  The large mature oak tree create a beautiful and peaceful setting to honor our family and friends.  This is a great spot to visit if you are a history fan or want to view the great artistic tombs of the past.

One of the best sites to find more information about the Rural Cemetery is on the Our Stockton blog.  Wes Rhea, highlighted is trip as part of a walking tour of the cemetery.