Nestled in the heart of downtown Concord, Memorial Garden is a tranquil three-acre sanctuary filled with blooming tulips, vibrant azaleas, and winding flagstone pathways. Once the graveyard of First Presbyterian Church of Concord, the garden rests on land purchased in 1804 for the congregation’s original log-cabin sanctuary. Though the church later relocated, this serene landscape remains one of the most beloved symbols of Concord’s faith and heritage.

Throughout the garden, visitors can explore the church’s 200-year-old cemetery, where stone paths meander past centuries-old oaks, flowing waterfalls, butterfly gardens, sculpted hollies, and intricately carved Italian marble markers. Every season transforms the space, but the springtime displays are especially enchanting.

The garden’s modern preservation owes much to Mrs. Sallie Phifer Williamson, who began restoring the historic cemetery in 1930 and dedicated it as a memorial to her mother. Her son, Marshal Phifer Williamson, continued her labor of love until he died in 1966, and later endowed a trust to support the garden’s ongoing care.

Today, Memorial Garden remains a free and peaceful retreat—an enduring testament to beauty, remembrance, and the devotion of those who worked to preserve it for generations to come.