Historic First Presbyterian Church Cemetery was established in 1831 and over time has survived vandalism, storms, an earthquake, and threats of removal. It is a lasting remembrance to the early citizens of Greensboro who carved a city out of the wilderness. Originally the cemetery was located on the edge of town, but because of Greensboro's growth, it is now nestled in the center of the cultural district behind the Greensboro Historical Museum. Those buried in the cemetery are from all walks of life-from wealthy to poor, those with doctorate degrees to the illiterate, the famous to those whose names are lost for all time, the newborn to the centenarian, the saint to the sinner, and the slave owner to the abolitionist. The early builders of the city and state and veterans of four wars now rest in the First Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

In 1860, leading citizens of Greensboro emotionally beseeched all residents to remain citizens of the United States during the turbulent days preceding the War between the States. Peace efforts failed after Pres. Abraham Lincoln wired Gov. John Willis Ellis of North Carolina to send troops to contain the rebellion in Charleston, South Carolina. After Lincoln's request for troops, the State of North Carolina officially severed relations with the United States on May 20, 1861. The citizens of Greensboro immediately went to work providing for their sons, brothers, and husbands serving in the army of the Confederate States of America. In 1865, Federal and Confederate troops converged on Greensboro. Images of America: Greensboro's Confederate Soldiers tells the story of the men wearing the gray uniform of the Confederate States of America. Additionally, the little-known stories of mothers, wives, and children left at home to fend for themselves while praying for, providing for, and maintaining the home front are told for the first time.