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| New Crown Hill Book |
This
Sunday, June 1st Crown Hill Cemetery will celebrate 150 years! In
celebration of the sesquicentennial, the Crown Hill Heritage Foundation and
Indiana Historical Society Press have published a 380-page book entitled “Crown Hill: History, Spirit, Sanctuary”.
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| View of the Cemetery |
The
Indianapolis Indiana cemetery was dedicated June 1, 1864 and the first interment
was held the next day. Today, over 200,000 people rest among 555 rolling, tree-covered
acres, making it the third largest non-government cemetery in the U.S.
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| View from the Crown |
The
park-like setting is home to thousands of stories, many of which the book shares,
along with photos. The history of, and in, this cemetery is interesting and
informative.
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| Grave of Lucy Ann Seaton |
The
first burial at Crown Hill was held one day after the dedication ceremony, on
June 2nd. Lucy Ann Seaton, a 33 year-old mother had died of
consumption (tuberculosis.) Her husband
John, a Union Captain serving in the Civil War, had inscribed on her stone, “Lucy, God grant that I can meet you in heaven.”
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| Through a Gravestone |
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| Crown Hill: History, Spirit, Sanctuary |
Crown
Hill has thousands of statues, markers and gravesites. The Crown Hill book
features over 600 color photographs from stunning monuments and mausoleums to
seasonal vignettes to detailed close-ups of symbols and epitaphs to a bird’s
eye view of the “City on the Hill.”
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| Crown Hill: History, Spirit, Sanctuary |
The
photos provide intricate and often over-looked details in the cemetery whether depicting
chiseled mausoleums, abundant wildlife, or deeply etched shadows on a statue’s
face: The fascinating photographic angles give the reader an even greater feel
for the subject.
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| John Dillinger's Grave |
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| Crown Hill: History, Spirit, Sanctuary |
Crown
Hill is the final resting place of numerous famous and notorious people from politicians
to artists, actors, community and state leaders, automotive manufacturers,
musicians, and countless others. Many of their stories are captured upon the
pages of the Crown Hill anniversary book.
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| James Whitcomb Riley's Monument |
Hoosier
Poet James Whitcomb Riley was the first person to be buried on top of the crown
in 1917 – 18 months after his death.
From the top or the crown of the
hill, you can see downtown Indianapolis, almost 3 miles away.
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| Eli Lilly Mausoleum |
Other
well-known people interred in the cemetery include Lyman Ayres, founder of L.S. Ayres
Department stores. Colonel Eli Lilly,
Civil War Commander and pioneer pharmacist, who founded Eli Lilly Laboratory in
Indianapolis. Dr. Richard Gatlin,
inventor of the Gatlin gun, along with John Dillinger, the
infamous 1930’s bank robber.
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| Graves in National Cemetery |
Crown
Hill is also home to a National Cemetery. It was 1866 when the U.S. Government
purchased 1.4 acres of land within Crown Hill to construct a military cemetery for
Civil War soldiers. Over 700 soldiers
were interred by November of that year.
In all, 2,135 soldiers are now buried here, representing every war in
which the United States has taken part in up to and including the Viet Nam War.
The last burial was for Air Force Major
Robert W Hayes in 1969.
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| Confederate Mound |
There
is also another military burial ground in Crown Hill: The Confederate Mound is
the final resting place of 1,616 Confederate Prisoners of the Civil War. These southern soldiers died while being
detained at Camp Morton from 1862 through 1865.
Most were originally buried at the City Cemetery, but were moved in 1931
by the War Department.
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| June Tour Schedule |
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| Tours |
Public
and private tours of the cemetery are offered throughout the year. There are four different
tours scheduled during the anniversary month. Tours will be held on each Saturday
this month and include: Angels of Crown Hill (June 7), Heritage Tour, which
includes a visit to over 40 graves and monuments of well-known and notable
people (June 14), Private Family Mausoleums (June 21), and Skeletons in the
Closet, Part 1 (June 28). All tours begin at 7:30 p.m. except June 21 when the
mausoleum tour is held at 9:30 a.m.
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| U.S. Colored Troops Burial Grounds |
The
“Spirit of Freedom” event,
celebrating the African Americans who fought and died during the Civil War, will
be held June 5th, 10:45 to 1 p.m.
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| Cemetery Honey |
Crown
Hill is alive with nature from Monarch butterflies covering a gravestone to
deer grazing peacefully under the trees. The cemetery is also home to over
4,000 inventoried trees; many uncommon to the region, and many that are very
old. The cemetery is a-buzz with thousands of bees, which have hives on top of
the Art Deco Community Mausoleum. Beekeepers from England’s Apiary of
Indianapolis gather the honey a couple of times a year to sell. It has been
called, “Gravely delicious.”
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| Statue in Cemetery |
Plan
a trip to Crown Hill Cemetery to explore the art, sculptures, history and more.
The cemetery is located at 700 West 38th Street in Indianapolis,
Indiana. For more information, visit their web page at www.crownhill.org. Or check out the Crown
Hill Facebook page at
If
you can’t make it for a visit, or would like a beautiful keepsake, consider a copy of the 150th anniversary book, Crown Hill: History, Spirit, Sanctuary.
To order visit www.crownhillhf.org
Crown
Hill is a true Rural Cemetery offering something for everyone; history,
architecture, art, walking tours and nature, all in a serene and beautiful
setting.
Happy
150th Anniversary to this magnificent City on the Hill!
~
Joy
