Glenwood is a microcosm for Flint and the surrounding region with individuals interred here reflecting the agricultural, lumbering, industrial and automotive heritages of the area. Established in 1857, Glenwood Cemetery is one of the few early urban cemeteries in this state which features hilly, picturesque scenery and patterns of winding roadways, rather than the typical grid configuration of modern cemeteries. 

The abundance of private mausoleums, vaults, obelisks, columbaria and other markers and monuments with distinctive funerary art are a testament to the legacies of those resting for eternity here. Among those buried in Glenwood are: Flints first white settler, numerous United States veterans dating from the Revolutionary War, past mayors, prominent politicians and diplomats, two former governors, Flint's only lieutenant governor, newspapermen, industrialists, educators, and philanthropists, alongside all of the workers who made Flint home. 

The cemetery and arboretum are active today in many ways. The cemetery continues to conduct burials and has lots available for sale. Tours are available by arrangement with partners such as the University of Michigan-Flint History Department and the Genesee County Historical Society. The site is a fine location for recreation enthusiasts and also for quiet walks. Visitors are welcome every day from dawn to dusk.

The cemetery has, throughout its existence, been maintained under the auspices of the nonprofit Glenwood Cemetery Association whose trustees and members, the board of directors, have included leading citizens who volunteer their time to preserve this spectacular treasure.