Mount Holly Cemetery has been the final resting place for hundreds of Arkansans since its founding in 1843. Each year on the second Sunday in October, Tales of the Crypt brings their stories to life.
Beyond the iron gates on 13th Street, visitors touring the cemetery’s historic grounds are introduced to the “residents” of Mount Holly through short scenes written and performed by the drama students of Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High School. Each scene is stationed among the monuments, and students are dressed for their moment in history by local costumer Holly Payne.
Founded in October 1995 through a collaboration between Arkansas Historic Preservation, Parkview faculty and the Mount Holly Cemetery Association, this beloved event is also an immersive learning experience.
The first performances reflected an early history of Arkansas, and students had no shortage of subjects to research ‒ Mount Holly is home to 11 governors, 22 Little Rock mayors and two Pulitzer Prize winners, among many other notable citizens. Over the years, the focus has deepened to reflect the diversity of its residents.
“We’ve really tried to broaden the scope of the stories that are told,” says Judy Goss, a retired Parkview drama teacher and Mount Holly board member. “It’s a living cemetery; people are still being buried there. We’ve looked to make stories more diverse because it tells the community about their history.”
Tales of the Crypt is free to the public thanks to a generous sponsorship by Crow Burlingame/Bumper to Bumper and other local supporters. This year’s event takes place on Sunday, Oct. 13 from 2-4 p.m., with one-hour tours led by student guides featuring 24 students acting out 13 scenes from Arkansas history. Guests can take the east or west tour, or circle back to see both. For more information, visit mounthollycemetery.org.