Book Talk | Buried Dallas–Fort Worth: A Photographic Journey through North Texas Cemeteries

 When another Tui Snider book came up on the docket for the Lone Star Literary Life bloggers group, I signed up to review almost immediately. Since reading and reviewing her book 6 Feet Under Texas for the first time in 2020, I've been a Tui Snider fan. Her historic and niche books are something different and more than just another coffee table book. Here's my book talk of Buried Dallas–Fort Worth: A Photographic Journey through North Texas Cemeteries by Tui Snider.

About the Author 

Tui Snider is an author, speaker, photographer, YouTuber, podcast host, and musician who researches historic cemeteries and symbolism, offbeat Texas travel, overlooked history, and haunted lore. As she puts it, “I used to write fiction–but then I moved to Texas!” 

Snider’s best-selling books include Understanding Cemetery Symbols, 100 Things to Do in Dallas-Fort Worth Before You Die, Paranormal Texas, and many more. Snider has several books in progress and enjoys connecting with readers all over the globe through social media, her weekly newsletter, and website: TuiSnider.com.

 

About the Book

Buried Dallas–Fort Worth is your photographic companion to the fascinating world of North Texas cemeteries. More than simple graveyards, these sites are some of the region’s most enriching roadside attractions, free to visit and perfect for day trips.

North Texas burial grounds reveal a cultural tapestry through headstone designs, burial traditions, and cemetery symbols. From pioneer burial cairns to Wild West gunfighters, from the nation’s only murder memorial to the grave of an alleged space alien, these burial grounds brim with history, art, and unexpected surprises. Exploring them reveals stories of diverse communities—European, Hispanic, African American, and beyond—who became cowboys, oil tycoons, heroes, villains, and everyday citizens.

Organized into four sections (Dallas, Fort Worth, DFW Metroplex, and Worth the Drive), this book makes it easy to plan North Texas road trips. With vivid photography and concise history, Buried Dallas–Fort Worth reveals how cemeteries serve as unexpected roadside museums, preserving stories that connect the past to the present. 

 

Book Talk 

I always have a fascinating time reading a Tui Snider book, and Buried Dallas–Fort Worth: A Photographic Journey through North Texas Cemeteries was no different. I enjoyed learning about the different cemeteries and monuments that represent various individuals and cultures. From a small Holocaust memorial at the Ahavath Sholom Hebrew Cemetery to the festivals and gravestone restoration demonstrations held at Aledo: Dixon Cemetery, each section feels like a small piece of a much larger Texas story. With accompanying photographs for each cemetery, you are able to slow down and take in the details of the grave and take in the history in it all.
 
Some may hesitate to pick this one up, maybe thinking it'll be too emotional. While there is a natural melancholy to a book like this, our author's fascination and curiosity bloom through the sadness and make the book feel more like a peaceful celebration. Some gravesites carry more sense of loss and abandonment, while others celebrate their past and present. Together, the blend of viewpoints creates a thoughtful reminder that communities leave behind evidence of who they were, even when the people themselves have been long gone. 
 
Overall, this is a very interesting, intriguing, and respectful photographic book that take your through North Texas history through its cemeteries. Going through the different cemeteries made me want to visit a few of them, more so the ones that have festivals and consistent events to help preserve the grave sites. A great book for the history nerds and the curious readers. 

 

Until next time, Happy Reading!