6 Cleveland Cemeteries Chock Full Of Local History You'll Want To Explore
By Nikki Rhoades|Published October 05, 2020
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
Cemeteries tell us a lot about the people that founded them. From the rich symbols decorating headstones and mausoleums to the layout of family plots and the architectural styles used throughout the park’s monuments, there is a lot of information that can be gathered from these sacred places. Cemeteries in Cleveland are full of hundreds of years of history, with some of the earliest dating back to the beginning of the 1800s. Believe it or not, local cemeteries aren’t as spooky as some might believe. They’re actually rather peaceful places where one can easily connect with nature. Spend some time in Greater Cleveland’s great outdoors at these historic resting places.
Full of interesting monuments, unique headstones, and perfectly manicured lawns, Lake View Cemetery is the resting place of more than 100,000 locals. This gorgeous garden cemetery was founded in 1869, with its first plots being offered via The Plain Dealer in 1870 for just $4 apiece. In addition to boasting incredible attractions like Daffodil Hill, this pretty place hosts two stunning locations on the National Register of Historic Places; the James A. Garfield Memorial and Wade Memorial Chapel, Cleveland's own Tiffany glass masterpiece. Visit the magical Lake View Cemetery at 12316 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106.
More like Eerie Street Cemetery, am I right? When Erie Street Cemetery was established, it was on the edge of the city... and not located across the street from our baseball field. As Cleveland's first cemetery, some of the city's most prominent early residents called this peaceful spot their eternal home. Cleveland's first permanent settler is buried here, and Cleveland's first mayor has a headstone here... though his remains were eventually moved to Lake View Cemetery. Some assert that this cemetery is haunted, with Joc-O-Sot as a specter many nod to. According to legend, Joc-O-Sot passed away in The Land instead of in his ancestral land, and this Chief of the Mesquakie is said to be taunted by the Cleveland Indians team right across the street. Look for the cemetery at 2254 E 9th St, Cleveland, OH 44115.
Riverside Cemetery is a historical gem, dating back to 1876 and currently interring some of Cleveland's most memorable residents of yore. This splendidly beautiful spot was established as a resting place for West Side residents, but it was also groundbreaking (pun intended since it's a burial ground... you get it) as one of the first non-sectarian resting places west of the Cuyahoga River, according to its website. All sorts of interesting residents are buried here, including Linda Anne Eastman, the librarian for whom Cleveland's Eastman Reading Garden is named. Visit this pretty place at 3607 Pearl Rd, Cleveland, OH 44109.
Monroe Street Cemetery is tiny compared to some Cleveland landmarks, but across its 13.63 acres is all sorts of history. More than 31,000 residents are buried here, with some estimating that this plot became hallowed ground as early as 1818... making it perhaps the oldest cemetery in Cleveland. Interesting figures like Patrolman John Kick are buried here — Kick was the first Cleveland officer to be killed in the line of duty. Visit Monroe Street Cemetery at 3302 Hancock Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113.
St. John Cemetery is a site that most people are not familiar with, and it's actually fairly small, with a mere 10,500 memorials in the local landscape. However, this Irish Catholic cemetery is packed with history thanks to its founding more than a century back. Since 1858, it has taken on some notable interments. Captain Michael English is one of the more memorable eternal residents of this resting place. He was a member of the Cleveland police force beginning in 1871, and during that time he became a widower with five young children. He powered through the struggle and continued to serve until 1902, when he became a local security guard and is said to have quelled area protests. Visit this cemetery at 7000 Woodland Ave, Cleveland, OH 44104.
Mayfield Cemetery dates back to 1890, and it instantly gained attention as the area's only Jewish garden-style cemetery. The Israelitic Society, the group responsible for the founding of this impressive 21-acre cemetery, was founded in 1839. However, this piece of land wouldn't be able to accommodate future internments, so they established Mayfield Cemetery. Here, you'll find famous Clevelanders like philanthropist Bert Wolstein and Israeli-American Olympian David Mark Berger, who was murdered at the 1972 Summer Olympic Games. Visit this historic site at 2749 Mayfield Rd, Cleveland Heights, OH 44106.
The variety of cemeteries in Cleveland are awe-invoking, especially if you’re a history buff. Fun fact — did you know that cemeteries and graveyards are actually different? Though these terms are often used interchangeably, graveyards are usually found in churchyards. There, you learned something new! Now get out and see what you can learn at these historic cemeteries in Cleveland.
Did you know that some famous people are buried in Cleveland? Visit the graves of local celebrities like Chef Boyardee (yes, that Chef Boyardee) and Eliot Ness in and around The Land.
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