The Continued Development of Crown Hill Cemetery

The Field of Valor, which contains a Memorial Park style setting and community mausoleum internments, was dedicated in 2004.

Given the size of the cemetery (555 acres) and the fact that there are approximately 250 acres undeveloped, the evolution of the cemetery continues today. While its origins are of rural cemetery design, it has evolved in use and design over 162 years. The original Rural Cemetery design of the property is prevalent on the south side of the property, near the Gothic Chapel. However, as you travel around the cemetery, you can see how funerary and cemetery attitudes have evolved from the type and style of stones and family mausoleums, to the layout of sections and plots.

This shift is seen most dramatically on the grounds north of 38th Street. Here, you see community mausoleums, columbarium, and Memorial Park layout with lawn style tombstones.

Tombstones flush to the ground (known as lawn style markers) are iconic features of a Memorial Park cemetery, made popular after WWII. Developing out of this style, we now get modern monumental cemeteries, with upright tombstones and limited trees and plantings.

The 1968 Administrative Office was added onto in the early 1990s to allow for Crown Hill to develop a funeral home.

After construction of the original Community Mausoleum in the 1950s (you can read more about it in our October 2024 newsletter), more community buildings were built throughout the cemetery. Buildings like the Abbey Mausoleum, Garden Mausoleums, Pines Garden Mausoleums, and Field of Valor Eternal Flame and Mausoleums expand interment options beyond ground burial. Further developments of the property have included the Scattering Garden, Companion Meadow, and Cremation Memorial Garden.

Another new building on the north side was the new administration building constructed in 1964. This replaced the Waiting Station as the cemetery’s office. This small, limestone building reflected the 1960s styles of modern architecture. An addition was added in the 1990s when Crown Hill decided to branch out from just a cemetery to offering funeral home services. The new addition allowed for offices, viewings, funerals, a community room for family meals, and post-mortem care. This structure remains the cemetery and funeral home office today.