East Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Crystal Shrine Grotto

Photographed by Ken Smith, September 26, 2006

1. Crystal Shrine Grotto Marker

Inscription. A unique cave was constructed by Memoral Park founder E. Clovis Hinds and Mexican artist Dioñicio Rodriguez in 1935-38. Natural rock and quartz crystal collected from the Ozarks form the background for nine scenes from the life of Christ. The cave and environs were built of concrete in imitation of rocks, boulders and trees. This naturalistic art recreates links with history and literature.

Erected 1988 by Memorial Park and Shelby County Historical Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Man-Made Features.

Location. 35° 6.327′ N, 89° 52.536′ W. Marker is in Memphis, Tennessee, in Shelby County. It is in East Memphis. It is at the intersection of Poplar Avenue (U.S. 72) and Oakhaven Road, on the left when traveling east on Poplar Avenue. Marker is located at the south wall of Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5600 TN-57, Memphis TN 38119, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in the Upper South,

in the Mississippi Delta,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Memphis University School (approx. one mile away); This Chimney Swift Tower (approx. 1.2 miles away); Mosby-Bennett House (approx. 1.2 miles away);

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Mertie's Lake and the Buckman Water Science Trail (approx. 1.2 miles away); Shelby County / Memphis (approx. 1.3 miles away); Hutchison School (approx. 1.3 miles away); Tragic Accident Sparks Sanitation Strike (approx. 1.8 miles away); Eudora Baptist Church (approx. 1.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Memphis.

Also see . . . Find a Grave listing for Elliott Clovis Hinds founder of Memorial Park and the Crystal Shrine Grotto. Elliott Hinds is buried in the cemetery that he created. (Submitted on September 7, 2015, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee.)

Additional commentary.
1. Memphians and the Crystal Shrine Grotto
It is not unusual to visit Memorial Park Cemetery and see a burial happening in one part and a professional photographer taking photos of brides at the Crystal Shrine. There are often school buses full of children going on field trips to the Grotto in the cemetery. This was the vision of Elliott Hinds who had visited a cemetery in which no vertical markers were allowed and envisioned a park-like setting where families might come to picnic

Photographed by Ken Smith, September 26, 2006

2. Crystal Shrine Grotto Marker

at a cemetery. While this correspondent has never seen a picnic there, a very pregnant, extremely stylish woman was having her photo taken, by a professional photographer, next to the Abraham Tree sculpture, when I last visited the cemetery September 7, 2015.

— Submitted September 7, 2015, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee.

Crystal Shrine Grotto image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ken Smith, September 26, 2006

3. Crystal Shrine Grotto

Photographed by Ken Smith, September 26, 2006

4. Crystal Shrine Grotto

Photographed by Ken Smith, September 26, 2006

5. Crystal Shrine Grotto

Crystal Shrine Grotto National Register of Historic Places Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Steve Masler, September 7, 2015

6. Crystal Shrine Grotto National Register of Historic Places Marker

Abraham's Oak Marker outside the Crystal Shrine Grotto image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Steve Masler, September 7, 2015

7. Abraham's Oak Marker outside the Crystal Shrine Grotto

Abraham's Oak Sculpture outside of Crystal Shrine Grotto image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Steve Masler, September 7, 2015

8. Abraham's Oak Sculpture outside of Crystal Shrine Grotto

Cowboy Boots Pedestal in Memorial Park Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Steve Masler, September 7, 2015

9. Cowboy Boots Pedestal in Memorial Park Cemetery

Credits. This page was last revised on October 14, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 11, 2012, by Ken Smith of Milan, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 1,373 times since then and 44 times this year. Last updated on September 7, 2015, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 11, 2012, by Ken Smith of Milan, Tennessee. 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on September 7, 2015, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.