The Historical Society of Long Beach conducts its annual living history tour at the city’s two oldest cemeteries, which are located adjacent to each other on Willow Street between Orange and California.

Historical reenactors tell stories of "their lives" graveside. This is not a scary performance; it's an exploration of Long Beach's history and is appropriate for all ages. 

Each year’s program features a number of stories – some are individuals who helped shape the city’s political past, others are ordinary people whose tales remind us that rich or poor, famed or nearly forgotten, everyone has a story to tell. Attractions include Japanese American History, a dia de Los Muertos installation, talks by historians, authors signing local history books, and displays of Long Beach history.

The tour is self-guided and takes approximately three hours to complete; the last presentations begin at 2:40pm.

Come prepared to walk a lot. Tickets are sold online and at the gate, from 8:30am until 12 noon.

There is some parking inside the cemetery, with overflow parking behind the cemetery at Willow Springs Park (enter from Orange Ave.), and street parking in the surrounding neighborhood.