Historical walking tour of Acacia Memorial Park on Saturday, May 5

Previous tour of the mausoleums at Acacia
Photo by Jerry Pickard

Acacia Memorial Park and Funeral Home and the Shoreline Historical Museum will be sponsoring an outdoor walking tour of Acacia Memorial Park on Saturday, May 5 at 11 am. 

The tour will begin in the Lakeview Mausoleum. Signs will be set up in the cemetery to help guide folks toward the Lakeview Mausoleum. The event is free of charge and open to the public. Comfortable walking shoes are strongly encouraged for this tour.

Acacia Memorial Park was found in 1926 by the Greater Seattle Masonic Lodge. The name “Acacia” comes from Masonic rites, as the Acacia tree is a symbol of the promise of rebirth and eternity. In 1927, the Lodge decided not to remain in the cemetery business and sold the Memorial Park to Fred Burnaby and his family. The Burnaby family owned Acacia from 1927 to 1999.

The original design of the Memorial Park formed a Celtic Cross when looked at from above. Acacia has 63 acres of land. At present, 43 acres have been developed. Careful planning went into the development of Acacia, particularly the horticultural features. There are approximately 60,000 to 70,000 people interred at Acacia.

The walking tour will highlight local notable people from politics, education, sport, military and business. There will be photos from Acacia’s earliest years on display in the Lakeview Mausoleum to allow guests to see the very beginnings of the Memorial Park. The tour guides will be Vicki Stiles, Executive Director of the Shoreline Historical Museum, and David Lukov, one of the managers of Acacia Memorial Park and Funeral Home.