[image id="9225" title="Old Bayview Cemetery" class="size-medium wp-image-19071" width="300" height="226" ] A photo of the Old Bayview Cemetery in Corpus Christi taken by Melinda Schmidt and submitted to the www.usgwarchives.net.

TAKE A WALK BACK IN TIME AT THE OLD BAYVIEW CEMETERY TOUR NOV. 9 — Storytellers, re-enactors and local history buffs bring history to life during the "Voices of South Texas" walking tour at the Old Bayview Cemetery in Corpus Christi Nov. 9.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., visitors to the cemetery will hear the stories behind tombstones that include veterans from the War of 1812, Texas Revolution, the War with Mexico, Civil War, Indian Wars and the Spanish American War.

The Old Bayview Cemetery is located at Ramirez St and Padre (IH-37) next to Coles High School. It is the first U.S. military cemetery in Texas. It is also an integrated cemetery including African-American and Hispanic soldiers and citizens.

Historic resting place

The cemetery was laid out by U.S. Army Engineers. It was the eve of the War with Mexico and Brig. Gen. Zachary Taylor was encamped in Corpus Christi. The steamer Dayton was transferring men from St. Joseph's Island to the city when it burst a boiler killing seven soldiers on Sept. 13, 1845. Corpus Christi founder H.L. Kinney donated a burial site for the soldiers to Gen. Taylor.

"On September 14, a military funeral took place at the burial ground which I selected. It is on the brow of the hill northwest of camp and commands a view of the Nueces and Corpus Christi Bays. Is a beautiful spot," wrote Col. E. U. Hitchcock, who served under Taylor.

The land became the community's burial ground when Taylor left the area in 1846.

"Voices of South Texas" is sponsored by the Nueces County Historical Commission. For more information call (361) 986-1268.