Entry No. 17 — the Kansas City file — filed under: haunted
Pitcher Cemetery
Tucked away in a quiet neighborhood, this tiny, half-acre pioneer graveyard dates back to 1830 and holds the dark history of early frontier tragedies.
The story
You'll drive right past Pitcher Cemetery if you aren't actively scanning the line along Blue Ridge Boulevard. Squeezed into a quiet residential pocket of Independence, this half-acre plot dates back to 1830, predating Kansas City itself. It isn't a manicured park with ornamental gates; it's a raw, surviving fragment of early frontier Jackson County.
Step onto the uneven turf and you'll find early local settlers alongside a Revolutionary War veteran and Colonel Thomas Pitcher. Look down between the carved headstones and you'll notice plain, uncarved fieldstones standing upright in the grass. Those mark the graves of early pioneers whose names were lost to frontier hardship before anyone could etch them into marble.
It is usually dead silent, though the grounds still manage to pull off odd surprises. In June 2025, local police and the bomb squad had to lock down the site after someone spotted a vintage grenade sitting among the gravestones. Keep your eyes on the ground when you visit.
What it's like
Expect a tiny, open-air pocket graveyard sitting right next to residential yards. There are no paved paths, visitor facilities, or parking lots, so park carefully along the street and step through the grass. It takes less than twenty minutes to explore the entire half-acre plot, but wear sturdy shoes to deal with the uneven ground and hidden stones.
The move: Take a quiet daytime stroll to find the 'mystery grave' of Colonel Thomas Pitcher, and look for the uncarved 'pioneer' stones scattered throughout the grass.
- 📍 Independence
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 3306 Blue Ridge Blvd, Independence, MO 64052
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Leila’s Hair Museum — Pair early frontier headstones with Victorian mourning art and hair jewelry just three miles away.
- Elmwood Cemetery — Trade this quiet half-acre pioneer plot for a sprawling 43-acre historic rural cemetery down the road.
- 3 Trails Forge — Keep the 1830s pioneer context going with a visit to a working blacksmith shop two miles away.
Good to know
Where is Pitcher Cemetery located?
It is located at 3306 Blue Ridge Blvd in Independence, Missouri.
When was Pitcher Cemetery established?
The graveyard was established in 1830, making it one of the oldest pioneer burial grounds in the area.
What makes the headstones unique?
Alongside formal headstones for figures like Colonel Thomas Pitcher, the plot contains plain, uncarved pioneer fieldstones marking early anonymous graves.
Are there visiting hours or fees?
There are no admission fees. It is accessible during daylight hours, though you should confirm current local neighborhood access guidelines before visiting.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: kcur.org · kmbc.com · livingkansascity.blogspot.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-07-21