Community Events
March 23 - Elmwood Walks: The Elmwood Story
Who founded Elmwood and why? Who was the first person buried here? What is Strangers Ground? What does Frederick Law Olmsted have to do with any of this? We explore these questions (and more you didn't know you had!) on our first walking tour of the season! It's on Sunday, March 23 at 10 a.m. Monthly walking tours are free, but capacity is limited, so please register here.
April 5 - Birding with the Detroit Bird Alliance
Join the Detroit Bird Alliance and the Historic Elmwood Foundation for a birding walk at the cemetery. We will walk the grounds to identify the species we see throughout the cemetery and discuss bird migration, habitats and highlights of Elmwood's history. Bring your own binoculars or Detroit Bird Alliance will have some to borrow. We will gather in the chapel following the walk for refreshments.
Register with the Detroit Bird Alliance for the bird walk on April 5 at 8:30 a.m. or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more details.
May 1 - Summer hours begin
Extended hours for grounds access beginning May 1 are through September 15, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
May 10 - Underground Railroad Tour with Jamon Jordan
Detroit, once known by the code name “Midnight,” was one of the last and most important stops on the Underground Railroad and home to a robust Black-led community of anti-slavery activists, many of whom are buried at Elmwood. Join Jamon Jordan, Official Historian of the City of Detroit, for a tour exploring the history and context of the Underground Railroad in Detroit and Michigan. Elmwood is proud to be a significant site on the National Park Service’s Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. May 10 at 11 a.m. The tour is free, but registration is required; sign up here.
Or perhaps, you would like to enjoy Elmwood on your own or with a group of friends. Each year, we are visited by those who choose to picnic alongside our restored pond, run or bicycle on our roads, watch for the migration of birds in Michigan, photograph our unique memorials, walk along our beautiful grounds appreciating our outdoor sculpture garden, the perennials, and majestic trees, or simply contemplate this quiet setting in the heart of Detroit.
Cemetery Hours
Grounds Access
May 1 – September 15 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Daily
September 16 – April 30 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Daily
Office Hours
Weekdays 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Saturdays 9:00 a.m. – noon
The office is closed on Sundays but the grounds are open.