By GINNY MIRRIAM
Stories and Stones Historical Tour
Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018
12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Free Admission
One of Missoula’s oldest cemeteries presents an afternoon of living history. Journey into the past as 18 volunteers in period costume narrate life stories of individuals from Missoula’s past. We invite the public to come enjoy this vastly popular event for all ages, and we thank our sponsors for their continuing generous donations.
Missoula City Cemetery is proud to feature exciting new twists to two of our most popular stories:
Wayne Nance was a local boy turned serial murderer. This year, hear case facts from the Missoula County Attorney who was intimately involved in the investigation into all of the cases involving Wayne Nance. Robert ‘Dusty’ Deschamps III was at the scene of each case, saw all of the evidence, personally questioned all the witnesses and investigators, questioned Wayne Nance and other suspects during the grand jury proceedings, and conducted all the final questioning during the inquest into Wayne Nance’s death.
Jerry Daniels was a CIA operative who orchestrated the secret air evacuations of thousands of Hmong from Laos. Jerry died under mysterious circumstances, and conspiracy theories abound. Thirty-five years after his death, local law enforcement have now quietly exhumed the casket of Jerry Daniels. The Montana State Medical Examiner documented and tested the contents of the casket before returning the casket to its grave. Has the mystery finally been solved? Does the casket contain the remains of Jerry Daniels? Visitors may be surprised by the results.
At the Missoula City Cemetery, visitors will also discover…
Which Missoulian was the first woman elected to Congress?- Who lived in three territories and one state without ever moving?
- What cryptic letter arrived at the cemetery to free a descendant from an ancestor’s past?
- Who falls victim to a crime when a Prohibition bust goes wrong?
These stories and so much more!
Missoula City Cemetery, established in 1884, is one of the oldest operating cemeteries in the Missoula valley. Its beauty, tranquility, and pristine grounds surpass cemeteries throughout the state. Since 1901, the City of Missoula continues to operate, maintain, and improve the grounds to provide an essential service to the public.