Phone: 317-925-3800
Toll Free: 800-809-3366
Toll Free: 800-809-3366
History of Our Indianapolis Cemetery
Crown Hill's Historic Significance
From our incorporation in 1863 through today, the history of Crown Hill speaks to the history of the people of Indiana. We invite you to learn more about Crown Hill thought our Heritage Foundation.
Chronology of Historic Crown Hill Cemetery
| 1863 | Sept. 25: | Cemetery is incorporated as a non-profit, non-denominational, and non-sectarian with a Board of thirty corporators. |
| Oct. 16: | First 236 acres of land are purchased from three local farmers for $51,000. | |
| Dec. 31: | Fredrick Chislett, landscape architect and first superintendent, moves his family into a cabin on the south approach of "The Crown." | |
| 1864 | June 1: | Dedication ceremony for the new cemetery. |
| June 2: | Lucy Ann Seaton becomes the first burial with her funeral conducted by Rev. Hanford Edson. | |
| July 30: | Main entrance and lodge (on the Michigan Road) is completed. | |
| Oct. 30: | East Entrance to the cemetery is open. | |
| Fall: | First private mausoleum for the Caleb Smith family is completed in Section 5. | |
| 1865 | Feb. 19: | Josephine Jones becomes the first Black interment at Crown Hill. |
| 1866 | May 1: | Gatehouse at the east entrance is completed. |
| July 1: | A total of 480 burials are recorded with 71 monuments and 85 memorials. | |
| Aug. 27: | U.S. Government purchases land for a National Cemetery. The first 707 soldiers are moved to this section in November. | |
| 1867 | Sept. 9: | A residence for the superintendent on the grounds is approved with completion in 1869. |
| 1868 | May 30: | First Memorial Day is celebrated at the National Cemetery. |
| 1869 | June 1: | Grounds are expanded to 256 acres. |
| 1872 | Apr. 12: | Crown Hill Board votes to help finance the replacement of a wooden bridge over Fall Creek with an iron one so that large monuments can be brought to the cemetery. |
| 1875 | Jan. 7: | Gothic chapel designed by D.A. Bohlen is commenced and completed by year's end. |
| 1877 | Nov. 13: | Cemetery donates several lots to various benevolent societies. |
| 1878 | Apr. 26: | Oliver P. Morton become the first of ten Indiana governors interred at Crown Hill. |
| 1880 | Jan. 20: | First telephone installed at the cemetery. |
| 1885 | Nov: | New Archway and Waiting Station is completed at the east gate, which becomes the main entrance. |
| 1886 | Apr. 30: | All property south of Maple Road (38th St.) has now been purchased and amounts to 393 acres. |
| 1889 | July: | A total of 157 acres on the north side of Maple Road is purchased. |
| 1901 | April: | Original main entrance on Michigan Road is razed and replaced by a new west entrance of the southwest corner of South Grounds. |
| 1911 | Oct. 11: | Forty acres on north side of Maple Road purchased. |
| 1912 | Feb: | Reburial of 1,100 Indianapolis pioneers is made from Greenlawn Cemetery. |
| Nov 7: | Autos are permitted entrance to the cemetery. | |
| 1914 | May: | A new superintendent's residence is planned south of the Waiting Station on Boulevard Place. |
| June: | First sections of the brick and wrought iron fence are completed on the north and south sides of 38th St. | |
| 1917 | Oct. 17: | James Whitcomb Riley becomes the first burial on "The Crown." |
| 1918 | April: | First automobile is purchased for the cemetery. |
| 1925 | Fall: | Bridge / underpass Subway beneath 38th St. is commenced. It is completed by the summer 1927. |
| 1931 | Oct. 27: | Confederate dead, numbering 1, 616 prisoners of war who died at Camp Morton in the city, are reburied from Greenlawn. |
| 1933 | Feb. 7: | Last cemetery work horses are sold. |
| 1935 | Nov. 16: | First family interment is made in the North Grounds (Section 223). |
| 1942 | Oct: | Military bivouac or "War Show" consisting of more than 250 pyramidal tents and 2,600 soldiers is erected on the North Grounds to aid in recruiting efforts. |
| 1950 | June: | Last two dwellings (including the superintendent's home) are razed. |
| 1951 | Jan. 13: | Community Mausoleum dedicated. |
| 1957 | April: | Entrance north of 38th St. opened. |
| 1962 | Spring: | First of several Garden Crypts is erected east to the Community Mausoleum. |
| 1968 | April: | Southwest entrance (at 32nd and the old Michigan Road) is closed and removed. |
| July: | Ground breaking for the New Administration Building at the 38th St. Office. | |
| 1972 | May 2: | Restored Gothic Chapel is dedicated. |
| 1973 | Feb. 28: | Crown Hill Cemetery is designated a National Historic Place. |
| 1985 | Apr.10: | Crown Hill Heritage Foundation incorporated to aid with preserving Crown Hill's heritage. |
| 1987 | April: | Equatorial Sundial placed in front of the Community Mausoleum. |
| 1988 | Spring: | Crown Hill Cemetery is recognized as a museum of local and state history. |
| 1990 | Fall: | The Lewis E. Enkema Fountain placed inside the 34th St. entrance. |
| 1991 | May 27: | Dedication of the monument in the new military section takes place. Honors are extended to the United States Army, Navy, Air force, Marines, and Coast Guard. |
| 1992 | Fall: | Historic brick fence restoration completed. |
| 1993 | Spring: | Crown Hill Funeral Home dedicated. |
| Oct. 3: | Rededication of the Confederate lot (bronze plaques at this site contain the names of those interred here). | |
