The  open format tour will run from 1:00 – 2:30 pm on Saturday, September 7,  2024. Ticketholders will select from 18 grave sites where reenactors  adorned in period attire will tell “their” stories, including those of  former community leaders and unsung heroes. Vignettes include former  mayors, industrialists, philanthropists and others who played pivotal  roles in shaping the city’s identity and who are buried throughout the  hallowed grounds of the 1835 Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashua  cemetery.   With a new “twist” to the tour, QR codes accessible by cell phone will  provide additional historical insights into gravestone motifs and other  noteworthy information.

“After  the spring tour, many people asked the Nashua Historical Society for a  reprise of the event because they missed some of the reenactors the  first time or they wanted to invite family or friends they imagined  would enjoy the tour too. But we wanted to offer something new for  everyone, so we’ve added QR codes which will expand how we share  historical information with our guests as they journey throughout this  especially important Nashua cemetery,” said Paula Lochhead, chair of the  Cemetery Tour Committee at The Nashua Historical Society. The cemetery  tour will be memorable for history enthusiasts and curious minds alike.  Funds raised from this event will be used for ongoing efforts to  preserve the memory of Daniel Abbot, the “Father of Nashua.”   The 1835 cemetery is very old, which makes it both especially  interesting and somewhat difficult to navigate. To best enjoy the tour,  guests must be able to stand for an hour or more, walk on uneven  terrain, and manage steep stairs. The tour is not wheelchair accessible.  Guests are encouraged to dress for the weather and to wear proper  footwear. In addition, there are no restrooms at the cemetery, although  guests may use the bathroom facilities at the Speare Museum located ½  mile from the cemetery.

Tickets  for the Saturday, September 7th tour are available for $20.00 either  through the Nashua Historical Society’s website or at the Nashua  Historical Society’s Florence H. Speare Museum during business hours.  The rain date is Sunday, September 8, 2024. Children 12 years old and  younger may attend if they purchase a ticket and are accompanied by an  adult. Tickets may be available the day of the event, but advanced  reservations are strongly suggested because sales are limited.   On the day of the tour, Notable Nashuans Cemetery Tour ticket holders  should report directly to the UU Church of Nashua Cemetery located at 58  Lowell St., Nashua, NH 03064. The Speare Museum will be open from 1 – 3  pm the day of the tour. Free parking is available behind the Speare  Museum, 5 Abbott Street, Nashua, NH. In addition, special event t-shirts are available while supplies last.

Please see a map of the cemetery here.