One of the days I was in Chicago I got real brave and found the city transit bus I needed to get to Graceland Cemetery that is just north of Wrigley Field. I really enjoy old cemeteries with great above ground headstones/monuments.
The bus let me off right at the main gate of the cemetery. Sigh of relief. I was the only visitor at the cemetery but thankfully there were grounds crew there mowing and edging so I wasn’t completely alone. That would have been a little creepy.
This cemetery really is one of the best in the U.S. I’ve been to so far. I had a walking guide that led me to some noteworthy Chicago people buried here.
This is Peter Schoenhofen’s tomb 1827-1893. He established Schoenhofen’s Brewery. Although a significant amount of the brewery has been lost, the structures that remain of the Schoenhofen Brewery are still the most impressive pre-Prohibition era brewery structures in Chicago. Buildings were first erected in 1862. The last buildings were built in 1912, and the brewery remained in business until 1924, a casualty of prohibition. Supposedly, members of the Schoenhofen family used a tower to broadcast radio messages to German agents during World War I, prompting federal agents to seize the brewery.
William Kimball (1828-1904) He was the founder of the Kimball Piano and Organ Company.
Potter Palmer, Architect, 1826-1902. A prominent Chicago social leader, he was the primary developer of State Street, and built the Palmer House Hotel.
Architect. Born Lucius George Fisher Jr. in Beloit, Wisconsin, on November 27, 1843, he was a Chicago paper company magnate and architect. In 1895, he commissioned the Daniel Burnham & Company to build the 20 story, 275 foot tall Fisher Building in the loop community area of Chicago, Illinois. Completed in 1896, the landmark Fisher Building is the oldest 20 story building in Chicago that has not been demolished. Lucius George Fisher Jr. died in Chicago, Illinois, on March 20, 1916.
Dexter Graves (1789-1844) The Graves family was one of Chicago’s earliest settlers, arriving from Ohio in 1831. Note the most appropriate sculpture for the family name. The bronze is by the famous Lorado Taft and is called ‘Eternal Silence.’ He married Olive Kendall in 1818. Dexter was a son of Charles Graves and his first wife Lucy Brown, and was a seventh generation descendant of Thomas Graves who settled in Hartford, CT in 1645. Dexter lived in Norwich, Chenango Co., NY, and in Ashtabula Co., OH. His son Henry Graves was one of the richest men in Chicago.
There are Halloween rumors that the eyes glow on this statue on Halloween night. It’s pretty creepy even without the eyes glowing.
On my way out walking to Wrigley field to catch a Trolley back to downtown I passed another cemetery that was locked up for renovations.
I was happy to meet up with the trolley on schedule for my trip back. This is a very long post with a lot of photos and I didn’t even share all the photos I took. As always I find out after the fact what I missed when I do more research. I might have a chance to get back here since the ASCO conference will be in Chicago the next several years and Dear might have to represent his company again.
From an early age my siblings and I went to funerals and cemeteries. We were never left at home when my parents attended a funeral. It was part of our life to be exposed and not sheltered from death as hard as death is…
On a brighter note…the sun is shining here to day and as I look out my window I do not see any clouds. I’ll have to find something to do out and about to get my fair share of vitamin D. Have a great Father’s Day weekend everyone!
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
Oh my goodness – beautiful memorials. I love studying all the little details.
You have a great weekend too!
Seeing all these interesting headstones reminded me of Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. But, as you might expect in Paris, things were a lot tighter packed then Graceland. Looks like you had beautiful weather to explore.
Wow – very impressive monuments – although, personally, I’d like a very simple stone. But those make for an interesting cemetery stroll!
Incredible monuments with a lot of symbolism…some Christian and some so decidedly not. Love the history you shared. That “creepy” statue on the Graves family plot is amazing. It looks like Death itself. I enjoy a good cemetery and I know that I would “enjoy” that one for sure.
WOW….there are some amazing monuments in this cemetery. I can’t figure out what the one with the cross that looks like wood is. It has a natural stone base but what is all the center section with the words on it. Is it just a scroll laying on stones? There are some really different monuments here from any other old cemetery. I do love to wander cemeteries. And can I agree with you that the Graves family monument is indeed creepy. I’m going to have to put this on my list of places to go when we go back to Chicago. I’m glad you shared so many….fascinating to see them. Joy to your weekend. You celebrate sunshine and we’re praying for rain.
These are beautiful photos and I think you’re adventurous to go out on your own sightseeing while your husb is in meetings. Using the local mass transportation, no less. Good for you! I find old cemeteries fascinating and sometimes quite sad in the stories the markers tell. In PEI, I saw evidence of whole families including 7 or 8 children dying at one time. Either an influenza epidemic or a house fire? Tragic.
Beautiful and interesting headstones and monuments. One can learn a lot in a cemetery…and you found a most interesting one.
Looks like a pleasant place to visit…and BIG!
A very interesting post, Ellen. I’ve not visited many cemeteries but I always find them rather fascinating, especially the really old ones.
Wow, no clouds in sight out your window? I know that is a welcome sight. Or lack of sight? Well, you know what I mean.
Wow…..those are some very impressive headstones. There is so much history in a cemetery. Even without knowing the people there is a sense of respect that overcomes a person. Thanks for such a great representation of the Graceland cemetery!
Impressive monuments and interesting so many Celtic crosses were represented. Thanks for posting your shots. I am unlikely to visit Chicago personally again, so very much enjoyed touring along with you.
Wow Ellen B! That is one amazing cemetery that I\’d love to visit. I don\’t think I\’ve ever seen so many gorgeous headstones or crypts. What is it about cemetery\’s that we love so much? So, you get to do a few jobs in Canada this summer? Can I come along? I\’m dying to get back to Victoria…oh well, maybe for my eighteenth .
I hope you\’re having fun and we do need to catch up.
xoxo cori g
well I had to create a wordpress account to post a comment “-)
What an impressive collection of monuments. I find cemeteries interesting places, too. As I wander I wonder about the lives each stone represents, what memories they left behind and what legacy.
What a fascinating cemetery! Very impressive statues and monuments – just incredible. Would love to walk through and read the info on there. That reminds me – I could visit some around here – they’re just not that amazing!