Graceland Cemetery, a Piece of Chicago's Architectural History

One of the most well known and historical cemeteries in Chicago Illinois is Graceland Cemetery. This beautiful Victorian cemetery founded in 1860 acquires approximately 119 acres of land. Designed in a park like setting, Graceland is situated along high ground, making the land an appropriate place for burial. Originally the city's cemetery was located at Chicago's lake front Lincoln Park. In 1871, the Chicago City Council ordered the Lincoln Park cemetery to move all its graves due to fears that burials could contaminate the waters of Lake Michigan. Most of the burials were moved from Lincoln Park to Graceland, located in the northern Chicago community of Lakeview, with the main entrance being at the corner of Clark Street and Irving Park Road.

The founder of Graceland Cemetery was Thomas Bryan. Bryan was a successful Harvard educated lawyer from Virginia, and became the president of the cemetery company. The company also included a board of managers, made up of several well to do Chicagoans. Among those who have been laid to rest at Graceland include well known architects, real estate developers, politicians, and inventors. Some other famous Chicagoans who are now resting at the cemetery are John Kinzie(one of the earliest Chicago settlers), Marshall Fields(well known businessman and retailer), and Joseph Medill(the first publisher of The Chicago Tribune).

One of the first things people will notice when visiting this cemetery is its amazing architecture and beautiful landscape design. The landscaping at Graceland was designed by landscape architect Ossian Cole Simonds. Simonds was also a founding partner of the architectural firm Holabird & Roche, who designed Graceland's beautiful entrance gates, chapel, office building, and mortuary crypt. Two of the most notable pieces of architecture at Graceland is the Getty Tomb, and the Martin Ryerson mausoleum, both designed by architect Louis Sullivan. Sullivan is one of many architects laid to rest at the cemetery.