What to expect at the Bluff City Cemetery Walk
Visitors will be welcomed to the historic Bluff City Cemetery that has provided the final resting place for area residents since 1889. Once you arrive, you will be assigned a group number and a guide that will lead your group on a 70 minute tour that showcases gravesites of seven former residents. At the gravesite, an actor in period costume will bring the person to life! Hear their story and the impact they had on the history of Elgin. The group will rotate to the next site on the walk to meet another past Elgin resident until all sites have been visited. The entire walk is about 3/4 mile with some hills, and there are chairs available at each performance site.
Cemetery Walk Characters 2026
Trygve Rovelstad
Sculpted medals for military heroes of World War II and honored Elgin’s founders in his Pioneer Memorial statue.
Miland Gieske
Miland was the recipient of heroic action of several who dug him out of the rubble of the 1920 tornado.
William D. Nichols
Joined up with a rough group of abolitionists from Kansas and protected President Lincoln’s life and our Union in the first tense weeks of Lincoln’s presidency.
Louise Logan
Started what is now called Family Services Association. She organized various charities in the worst moments of the Great Depression to meet the needs of jobless families in Elgin.
Nora Wagner
Organized a group of young women in 1908 to repair an important part of Chicago St.
Dr. Alban Mann
Helped mitigate the worst effects of several major outbreaks of disease.
Jessie Sauceda
Raised her family around the values of faith, respect and education. Club Guadalupano is one of her best-known legacies.
History
The annual Bluff City Cemetery Walk in Elgin has been a tradition since 1987. It is organized by volunteers and staff of the Elgin History Museum. The event attracts hundreds of people to enjoy an outdoor theatrical performance and the beauty of the Bluff City Cemetery grounds. The event also seeks to educate people about Elgin’s unique history and the importance of preserving cemeteries.
History of the Cemetery Walk
The annual Bluff City Cemetery Walk in Elgin has been a tradition since 1987. It is organized by volunteers and staff of the Elgin History Museum. The event attracts hundreds of people to enjoy an outdoor theatrical performance and the beauty of the Bluff City Cemetery grounds. The event also seeks to educate people about Elgin’s unique history and the importance of preserving cemeteries.
Become a Sponsor
Your sponsorship of the Cemetery Walk will directly contribute to the success of the event. Please confirm your contribution by August 1, 2026. All sponsorships receive an ad in the program. Ad specs are below.
Ad Specs (click to view)
Character Sponsor – FULL PAGE -4.5 inches wide by 7.5 inches high
Event Sponsor – FULL PAGE – 4.5 inches wide by 7.5 inches high
General Sponsor – HALF PAGE – 4.5 inches wide by 3.5 inches high
Donor – ONE THIRD PAGE – 4.5 inches wide by 2.25 high
Thank you to our generous sponsors!
Virtual Cemetery Walk
The virtual version of the Bluff City Cemetery Walk will debut on October 9, 2023. The link to the video will be sent out October 9, and the recording will be available for a month. You will be able to access the video on our YouTube channel, and watch it on your device of choice.
Can I volunteer for the event?
YES! The Cemetery Walk is run solely by volunteers! There are many opportunities such as
- Guides that lead groups around the cemetery
- Set up and take down crews
- Greeters and ticket takers
- Hospitality
Please contact Rudy Galfi for more information.
Sponsorship
Last year over 600 people attended the Cemetery Walk. Your sponsorship of the event will show your commitment to the preservation and sharing of Elgin’s heritage. The event is heavily promoted locally and in the surrounding suburbs. Sponsors will be featured the day of the event, on the Museum’s website and social channels leading up to the event, and receive free tickets! View the full benefits and sponsor levels. Confirm your sponsorship by September 1, 2023.
Parking Details
Parking is available on Bluff City Boulevard on both sides of the street as marked in the image below. There are 4 accessible parking spots on either side of the Gate near the administration building. There will be Police Explorers at the gate to help with parking and direct traffic.
If you have any further questions about the walk, please call the Elgin History Museum at (847) 742-4248 or email cemeterywalk@elginhistory.org.
Photos from 2025 Cemetery Walk
Missed this year’s Cemetery Walk?
No worries — you can now experience it from the comfort of your home! 
Head over to our channel and relive the stories that bring Elgin’s history to life. Watch the full 2025 Cemetery Walk, now available on our YouTube channel.
If you enjoyed the show, please consider donating $15 to the Elgin History Museum. Your support will help ensure that we can continue to create the virtual version of the Cemetery Walk. All donations are appreciated!
Virtual Version Now Available!
If you weren’t able to attend the Bluff City Cemetery Walk in person, you can purchase a ticket to the virtual version! Enjoy hearing from the characters in a professional video that was filmed one week before the walk. Once you purchase a ticket, you will be sent a private link to view the video on our YouTube channel. You can watch on your phone, computer or TV.
Bluff City Cemetery Walk
By the numbers
