Glenwood Cemetery was established as a private cemetery in 1871 by the Houston Cemetery Company, which was incorporated by an act of the Twelfth Legislature of the State of Texas on May 12, 1871.
It was built on a site with distinguishing natural features and opened as the first rural garden cemetery in Texas. The design took advantage of the ravines leading down to Buffalo Bayou to create a rolling landscape with curving roads and walkways that was unique to Houston. The naturalistic style was likened to other garden cemeteries around the U.S.
In 1872, the name “Glenwood” was adopted. Lot sales began in January, although most purchases were for reinternment–dates of death that preceded the cemetery’s founding. After construction was completed, Glenwood opened for business that summer. The first burial was Eddie Masterson in June 1872.
Houstonians considered Glenwood to be a popular tourist destination, and improvements to transportation made it more accessible to the average citizen. Visitors would often walk the trails on pleasant Sunday afternoons.
For most of its first decade, the cemetery’s fortunes were guided by president W.B. Botts and the Board of Directors. Minutes of the activities from those years have never been found, so the day-to-day operations are largely unknown. However, it is known that new sections were developed and construction of the infrastructure continued.
In 1876, a second mortgage was taken out for improvements, including further development of Sections D and F and the construction of an entrance bridge from Washington Avenue.
