Stories Amid the Gravestones: Armchair Tour of Oakwood Cemetery

Oakwood Cemetery Trustee Carol Ann Siciliano is bringing her sold-out graveyard walking tour to the library! Join her at MRSPL as she offers this special armchair version of her presentation about the intertwined histories of Oakwood Cemetery and Falls Church. Carol Ann will lead you past tombstones engraved with names you'll recognize from the City's streets, parks -- and even this library! -- via a lecture illustrated with photographs from the graveyard as well as from the Falls Church History Room. Tracing the cemetery's history from its origins on the grounds of Fairfax Chapel (founded as a Methodist house church circa 1745), Carol Ann will discuss its connections to an 18th-century Black preacher considered by his white peers to be "one of the greatest preachers in the world," and share stories about the Riley family of Cherry Hill Farmhouse; the connection between Falls Church's first mayor and the death of Edgar Allan Poe; and a Civil War soldier who inspired an important poem by Walt Whitman. Additionally, she'll consider the impacts of the Civil War on the cemetery, and its link to the historically Black neighborhood of Halls Hill in Arlington. This October, don't miss the chance to tour Oakwood Cemetery from the comfort of the MRSPL conference room -- and learn about some of the poets and soldiers, spies and villains, faith leaders and storekeepers, and ornithologists and egg farmers from Falls Church's past! To register for this program, please scroll down and click on the blue "Register" box. About the Presenter Carol Ann Siciliano is a Trustee of Oakwood Cemetery and a member of its Board of Directors. In support of Falls Church 250 celebrations, Carol Ann has offered sold-out walking tours of the cemetery and is delighted to share her stories with a larger (and indoor!) audience. City of Falls Church 250 The year 2026 marks the 250th anniversary, or Semiquincentennial, of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, marking the formal founding of the United States. This national milestone is an opportunity to reflect on the country's founding, honor its diverse history, and explore how the American story continues to evolve. Communities across the nation, including the City of Falls Church, will host events, programs, and projects to commemorate the occasion and engage people in meaningful conversations about the past, present, and future of the United States. Learn more...