Aerial survey · USDA NAIP · public domainFounded in 1874, Texarkana's oldest city cemetery holds victims of the 1882 Paragon Saloon disaster and hosts the Museums System's monthly 'Talking Dead' living-history tours
E 9th St & Pine St, Texarkana, TX 75501
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Cemetery grounds free to visit; Talking Dead tours may carry a modest ticket fee — check Texarkana Museums System website
Access
Limited Access
Historic cemetery with uneven ground, grass paths, and aged headstones; some sections difficult for mobility devices
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1874 · Texarkana City Cemetery founding 1874 · 1882 Paragon Saloon disaster victims · Texas Historical Commission marker · Texarkana Museums System Talking Dead programming
Rose Hill Cemetery was established in 1874 as Texarkana's City Cemetery, predating much of the downtown commercial development that would follow the railroad's arrival. A historical marker placed on the grounds by the Texas Historical Commission confirms its founding date and role as the city's primary burial ground through the post-Reconstruction period.
The most documented tragedy connected to the cemetery is the 1882 Paragon Saloon disaster. A severe storm struck the building, causing partial structural collapse; the resulting fire killed multiple patrons. The victims were buried at Rose Hill, and their graves remain identifiable in a distinct section of the grounds. A 2021 expansion of the Talking Dead living-history tour added characters representing these Ace of Clubs-area residents and saloon fire victims, with tour researchers working from period newspaper accounts.
The Texarkana Museums System launched the Talking Dead living-history program as a way to connect residents with the city's documented past through costumed interpretation rather than purely paranormal programming. The format draws on primary-source research including court records, newspapers, and the cemetery's own burial documentation.
Paranormal investigators report capturing EVP recordings near the saloon victims' section, describing the sound of a group of people speaking simultaneously. Ghost hunting groups have documented sessions at Rose Hill as part of the broader Haunted Texarkana circuit.
Sources
The reported paranormal activity at Rose Hill Cemetery centers on the section holding victims of the 1882 Paragon Saloon fire. Ghost hunters who have conducted formal investigations at the site describe capturing EVP recordings they characterize as a large group of people speaking at once — an unusual sonic pattern they attribute to the mass casualty event.
The Texarkana Museums System's monthly Talking Dead tours approach the site from a living-history angle rather than a paranormal one. Costumed interpreters portray historical figures buried at Rose Hill, with scripts drawn from period newspapers and official records. The program treats the site's dark history as educational material rather than entertainment spectacle.
Rose Hill appears as a featured location in regional coverage of Texarkana's haunted sites. The cemetery's combination of verifiable historical tragedy and EVP documentation has made it a consistent stop for paranormal investigators working the East Texas circuit.
Monthly tours operated by the Texarkana Museums System feature costumed interpreters portraying figures buried at Rose Hill, including victims of the 1882 Paragon Saloon disaster and other Texarkana historical figures. A 2021 tour added characters representing Ace of Clubs residents and saloon fire victims. Tours run on scheduled evenings — check the Museums System website for current dates.
Visitors can walk the cemetery during daylight hours to find the section where Paragon Saloon fire victims are buried. A historical marker on the grounds documents Rose Hill's founding as City Cemetery in 1874 and its role as Texarkana's primary burial ground through the late nineteenth century.
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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