This year marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of the SPCA Serving Erie County (the second oldest SPCA in the nation). And all of the founders of this outstanding organization, including President Millard Fillmore, William G. Fargo and Mrs. John C. Lord, are buried here in Forest Lawn. So we're thrilled to partner with SPCA Serving Erie County to present a very special exhibit and tour: Lost and Found: Celebrating 150 Years of the SPCA.

The FREE exhibit explores the founding of the SPCA Serving Erie County with wonderful, rarely seen photos, illustrations and artifacts drawn from the archives of the SPCA and Forest Lawn. Among the most interesting items are a letter written by Millard Fillmore, sent to a congressman urging the passing of animal rights legislation, a diploma from an animal welfare organization in Turin, Italy given to Mrs. John C. Lord, and photos taken while investigating abuse claims to working animals. The exhibit will be on display at Forest Lawn's Margaret L. Wendt Archive and Resource Center beginning on Sunday, March 26th. Access to the exhibit itself is FREE. It can be seen at any time during the Wendt Center's hours of operation, which is open daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

And in conjunction with the exhibit, we are presenting a special an SPCA-themed trolley tour of Forest Lawn. The tour will begin with a view of the new exhibit, followed by an hour-long trip on the grounds, visiting the final resting places and hearing the stories of the founders of the SPCA, as well as an exploration of some of the most interesting animal-themed art that adorns many of the monuments in Forest Lawn.