Holland's Pilgrim Home Cemetery - Walking Tour in Michigan

Pilgrim Home Cemetery is the final resting place of the founder of Holland, Michigan -Albertus VanRaalte- as well as of thousands of others who have made this vibrant city what it is today. I'll lead you through this burial ground, visiting graves and learning about the people and the town, sharing stories of the lives that have been here before us, including photos! During the pandemic stand-by, I researched tour material and found myself returning often to this lovely burial ground. As a history lover and a story enthusiast, I was drawn to it and determined to make it come alive for visitors. In my research, I found a connection between my own family history and that of Holland, Michigan's founder! This thrilled my heart! As you stroll through this beautiful and peaceful place, you'll learn about Dutch traditions, culture and some of the legends of our town. We'll be walking around a mile for an hour and a half, and each person partaking will receive a bottle of water and a special Dutch confectionery.

·Our tour will begin with us meeting near the grave of Holland's founder, Albertus Van Raalte, where I'll proceed to share some introductions and orientation/information of the cemetery. ·An exploration of his family plot and the lives of his immediate family members will follow immediately thereafter. ·We'll then progress to the family plot of Holland, Michigan's first mayor Isaac Cappon and learn about his very divided family. ·From there we will visit several more gravesites including an alleged "meteorite", the burial spot of "My Strong Right Arm" and the Civil War Monument. ·At the end of the tour, you'll notice we'll have looped back very near to the starting point. This itinerary could be customized upon request.