Minneapolis Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery

The Minneapolis Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery is the oldest existing cemetery in Minneapolis. Since the first burial in 1853, the cemetery has become the final resting place for many who shaped history, from territorial pioneers to military veterans who served in wars ranging from the War of 1812 to World War I. It's also the resting place for many of the city’s early African-American residents, and for those with ties to the abolitionist movement. Several thousand immigrants, primarily from Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, are buried here, as are many of their children, and in fact, more than half of the cemetery’s 20,000 residents are children. On June 2, 2002, Minneapolis Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. KFAI producer Will Wright spoke with Sue Hunter Weir, a volunteer and chairman of Friends of the Cemetery.