Memorial Park Cemetery, Memphis

Infobox_nrhp | name =Sculptures of Dionicio Rodriguez at Memorial Park Cemetery
nrhp_type =

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caption = Entrance to the Crystal Shrine Grotto
location= Memphis, Tennessee
lat_degrees = 35
lat_minutes = 6
lat_seconds = 30.48
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 89
long_minutes = 52
long_seconds = 25.05
long_direction = W
locmapin = Tennessee
area =
architect= Rodriguez, Dionicio
architecture= Concrete construction, imitating wood and natural rock. Artificial rock formations with caves.
added = January 31, 1991
governing_body = Private
refnum=90001867cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

Memorial Park Cemetery was founded in 1924 by E. Clovis Hinds on initial 54 acres (.22 km²).http://www.memorialparkfuneralandcemetery.com/history.aspx Memorial Park Cemetery website] It is located at 5668 Poplar Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee

Different species of trees of different ages, as well as bushes, can be found throughout the cemetery, enhancing the atmosphere of a park-like setting.

The cemetery is noted for its Crystal Shrine Grotto, a hand-built cave depicting Biblical scenes built by artist Dionicio Rodriguez.

Crystal Shrine Grotto

In 1935 Mexican artist Dionicio Rodriguez was hired to beautify the park with sculptures. "Annie Laurie’s Wishing Chair", "Broken Tree Bench, Abrahams Oak", "Pool of Hebron" and "Cave of Machpelah" are some of the most important sculptures that can be found in different locations throughout the cemetery.

In 1938 construction of the Crystal Shrine Grotto begins. The grotto is a 60 ft (18.3 m) deep, hand-built cave in a hillside near the center of the cemetery, filled with 5 tons (4.5 t) of quartz crystal, hence the name "Crystal Shrine Grotto". The grotto was completed after Rodriguez' death in 1955. The shrines in the grotto illustrate the stages of "Christ's Journey on the Earth from Birth to Resurrection".

Since 1991, the Crystal Shrine Grotto is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for Tennessee.

Notable burials

*James Pinckney Alley, early cartoonist
*Don Briscoe, actor
*Laura Bullion, female Old West outlawMagness, Perre, "Cohort of Butch, Sundance 'retired' here", Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Jan. 12, 1995, page EC2]
*Ronnie Caldwell, musician with the Bar-Kays
*Jimmy Griffin, musician
*Bill Justis, musician, composer, arranger
*Shawn Lane, guitarist
*Sam Phillips, record producer
*Charlie Rich, singer

ee also

*List of cemeteries
*List of cemeteries in the United States
*Dionicio Rodriguez
*Memphis, Tennessee

References