I thought I had photographed these monuments before, but it seems that I have never featured them before. The monument above commemorates two members of the Nimíipuu people who died in St. Louis in 1831. More commonly known by their French name, the Nez Perce, which means “pierced nose,” the delegation was one their east when they stopped in St. Louis. Distilled History has a nice write-up here.
This second monument above commemorates the founders of St. Louis. This corner of the cemetery was known as the Public Lot, and contained the least expensive graves. When I was doing research on the Lemp family for my book, I learned from cemetery staff that graves cost around $6 or $7 in the 1860s. The next step up, closer to the entrance, cost $13.
To Chris Naffzigler: I am interested in using your image of the Nez Perce monument in Calvary Cemetery as part of an exhibit at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Spokane WA this fall. What are your terms for reproduction of your photographs? Do you have other images of the Nez Perce monument from different angles?
Thanks for your consideration.
Darryl Gurecky
Centennial Committee
Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist – Spokane