The Hidden History of a State Park

Buried Secrets Podcast

When we go to "spend time in nature," we like to think that the parks that we visit are separate from the bustling cities that we live in. But in reality, parks are as human-made and full of history as any landmarked building. You just have to look a little more closely to uncover that history.

This episode explores the forgotten history of William B. Umstead State Park in Raleigh, North Carolina, which is full of hidden cemeteries, ghostly gardens, and unexpected stories.

Highlights include:

• the connection that Umstead State Park has to the evacuation of Dunkirk during WWII
• the gardens that remain hidden in the woods even after houses have been torn down
• cemeteries in the woods

P.S. I forgot to mention that there's a book about the park's history called Stories In Stone: Memories From A Bygone Farming Community In North Carolina by Tom Weber (2011) that I can't find for the life of me. If you have a lead on getting a copy of it, please let me know!

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