Our projects
At the Preservation Society of Nashville, most of our work centers on advocacy—championing the protection and thoughtful stewardship of the city’s historic places and neighborhoods. The projects we actively engage in are carefully selected based on a variety of factors, including community impact, preservation urgency, available resources, and opportunities for meaningful collaboration. Through these efforts, we strive to ensure that Nashville’s unique heritage is preserved and celebrated for generations to come.
GPR Case study:
Rediscovering Calhoun Cemetery:
Preserving Nashville's African American Heritage
Nestled just off Nolensville Pike on the border of Nashville and Antioch, the Calhoun Cemetery stands as a quiet testament to the legacy of the Lake Providence African American community. Though surrounded today by shopping centers and car lots, this historic cemetery is a vital link to generations past—and thanks to a recent high-tech survey, we’re learning more about its hidden history than ever before.
Special thanks to the descendants, the Metro Historical Commission, and the Vanderbilt Institute for Spatial Research (VISR), specifically Natalie Robbins, VISR Program Manager and her team, for their dedication to preserving this important site.
Have a loved one buried at Calhoun Cemetery or want to get involved in preservation efforts? Reach out to the Metro Historical Commission to learn more!
a brief history
Founded in 1898 and officially registered in 1907, Calhoun Cemetery was established by the Lake Providence Missionary Baptist Church to serve the local African American community. The earliest known burials date back to the 1910s, with the last recorded in the late 1970s. Over the decades, the cemetery has weathered many changes—from urban development to encampments by unhoused individuals—sometimes resulting in disturbed graves and litter.
Despite these challenges, Calhoun Cemetery remains a place of deep meaning for descendants, who continue to care for it and honor those buried there.
why was the survey needed?
While past surveys and family records have documented some of the cemetery’s burials, many grave sites remain unmarked or lost to time. The most recent records listed only 10–11 marked graves, but local families and historical evidence suggested that many more people were laid to rest here.
With the threat of new construction nearby and a recent incident that disturbed a historic monument, the Metro Historical Commission (MHC) and the Preservation Society of Nashville (PSN) stepped in. They partnered with the Vanderbilt Institute for Spatial Research (VISR) to conduct a non-invasive ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey, aiming to:
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Map known and potential unmarked burial sites
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Aid in long-term preservation and management
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Help descendants reconnect with lost loved ones
how the survey worked
The VISR team used advanced technology to “see” below the surface without disturbing the ground:
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Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR): This tool sends radar pulses underground, detecting changes in soil that indicate burials.
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High-Precision GPS: Marked the exact locations of gravestones, depressions, and other features.
Five survey grids were established across the cleared, accessible portion of the cemetery. Areas with dense brush or steep slopes were excluded for now, but may be surveyed in the future.
what was discovered?
Surface Findings
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17 burial markers were identified, 13 with legible inscriptions.
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Items like candles, bottles, and a typewriter were found near some graves, possibly as offerings or grave goods.
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One previously undocumented grave (Amanda Katherine Baker) was discovered, missing from all earlier records.
Underground Discoveries
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62 potential burial sites were detected with GPR—far more than the number of marked graves.
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Many of these unmarked burials cluster around large trees, suggesting a tradition of planting trees to honor the dead.
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Some graves appear to be “stacked,” with two burials in one location.
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The majority of burials are concentrated in the central, cleared area of the cemetery.
Areas of Disturbance
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The southern edge of the cemetery, recently disturbed by construction, showed no clear evidence of burials beneath the surface.
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Some grave markers may have shifted from their original locations due to human activity and time.
why this matters
This new survey gives families, historians, and caretakers a much clearer picture of Calhoun Cemetery’s true extent. By identifying both marked and unmarked graves, the community can:
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Better protect the site from future disturbances
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Install permanent markers to honor those in unmarked graves
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Help descendants locate ancestors whose burial places were previously unknown
what's next for the calhoun cemetery?
The VISR team recommends:
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Clearing and surveying the overgrown eastern section—there may be more burials waiting to be discovered.
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Installing permanent fencing to protect the site from trespass and further disturbance.
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Working with descendants to confirm the locations of specific graves, especially those whose markers have been moved.
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Adding low-profile, permanent metal markers for unmarked graves, ensuring they can be found and honored for generations to come.
learn more
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