The Cemeteries of Sioux Falls: Stories, History, and Hidden Beauty

I have always been fascinated with cemeteries. The little town I grew up in had a small cemetery right outside of town.

The beautiful grounds, the bird songs, and the big Nebraska sky all combine to create a peaceful sanctuary. I loved walking through it, looking at the headstones, exploring history in a way you can't get in a book.

Get our free mobile app

READ KORE: Sioux Falls' 1,600-year-old Bureal Grounds

MORE HISTORY FROM RESULTS-TOWNSQUARE MEDIA SIOUX FALLS

• South Dakota’s Worst Storm in Recorded History – The ‘Children’s Blizzard’
• South Dakota Town That was Nearly Wiped Off the Map by Smallpox
• Did you Know That South Dakota Used To Be The Divorce Capital Of The US?
• 1973 Gitchie Manitou Murders – A Crime That Still Haunts Sioux Falls

Cemeteries Are More Than Just Burial Grounds

Finding the people whose streets were named after, reading the wonderful dedications and other messages on the stones. Marvling at the long lives that spanned two centuries, from the town's founding into the modern 20th century. And, mourning the short life spans and tragic deaths of my fellow small-town citizens.

Sioux Falls is like 40 times the size of my hometown, and that means there is a lot more here than I was used to. More schools, more people, more restaurants, and more cemeteries.

Read More: Forever Friends Pet Cemetery: A Tribute To Sioux Falls' Cherished Pets

Sioux Falls has at least 11 cemeteries. Some have been here for the 170-year history of the city. Some are relatively new. Some are giant, covering acres and acres, and full of thousands of graves. All of them are beautiful and offer a unique look into the people who make up the history of Sioux Falls.

H/T to gibsonmonuments.com for much of the information in this article.