Concordia Cemetery is one of El Paso’s most iconic landmarks. Over 60,000 people are buried on its 52 acres, and El Pasoans have always known it as something special. It has been featured on ghost hunting shows, it draws visitors from across the country, and it holds the stories of the people who literally built this city. The Concordia Heritage Association has been protecting that legacy since 1990, and their social media series “Stories from the Stones” is taking it to a whole new level.

Courtesy of Concordia Heritage Association

Courtesy of Concordia Heritage AssociationThe Dash Between the Dates On The Headstone

The idea came from CHA board member Louie Zamorano, and the philosophy behind it is simple. When you look at a headstone, you see two dates. But Louie will tell you those numbers are not the point. The dash between them is. That little line represents an entire human life, and he believes every single one of those lives deserves to be shared and remembered.

So he built a team of historians to do just that.

Stories from the Stones is a social media reels series where those historians step up to a headstone and tell the story of the person buried there, out loud, for anyone who will listen. The series covers the legends, like gunfighter John Wesley Hardin, frontier madam Lady Flo Wolf, and Juana Ascarate, the woman whose 1856 burial became the founding moment of Concordia Cemetery itself. But it does not stop at the famous names. Louie sees the unmarked graves and the John Does every day too, and he believes their stories matter just as much.

Concordia Heritage Association

Concordia Heritage Association

The response on social media has been overwhelming. El Pasoans are hooked, and they keep asking for more.

The CHA Does More Than Post Reels

The Concordia Heritage Association has been preserving and restoring Concordia Cemetery since 1990, and they keep the history alive year round through events, tours, and community programming. They work closely with historians, educators, and community organizations dedicated to telling the full story of El Paso.

And full disclosure: Iris and Grizz are proud honorary lifetime members of the CHA. The board surprised us live on air back in October, and it is genuinely one of the coolest things that has ever happened to us on this show.

READ MORE: CONCORDIA HERITAGE SOCIETY HONORS IRIS & GRIZZ

Do Not Miss the Cemetery Crawl Or Other CHA Events

If you want to experience Stories from the Stones in person, April 25th is your chance. The Concordia Cemetery Crawl runs from 6 to 8 PM on Saturday, April 25th, and it is exactly what it sounds like. Actors will be stationed at tombstones throughout the cemetery, bringing the stories of El Paso’s most legendary residents to life right there in the moment.

Courtesy of Concordia Heritage Association

Courtesy of Concordia Heritage Association

It is family friendly. It is free. And it is one of the most uniquely El Paso things you can do on a Saturday night. If you miss this one, don’t worry! The Concordia Heritage Association hosts other events year round with other cool organizations like Lost El Paso Paranormal and so many more!

READ MORE: LOST EP PARANORMAL WILL TEACH AND SCARE YOU

Follow the Concordia Heritage Association on Facebook and visit concordiacemetery.org to check out Stories from the Stones, browse upcoming events, and find out how you can support one of the most important preservation organizations in our city.

Lost El Paso Paranormal Is Your Year Round Spooky Stop

Lost El Paso Paranormal is a historical society in El Paso that hosts events year round celebrating the haunted neighborhoods, secret tunnels, and everything you can think of when it comes to The Sun Cities weird history!

From Family friendly storytelling events to downtown ghostly bar crawls, Lost El Paso Paranormal has everything.

Gallery Credit: Grizz

Haunted El Paso Neighborhoods

SCARY: El Paso High Ghost Girl & 14 Other Undeniably Creepy Listener Submitted Ghost Pics

Gallery Credit: Mike Martinez