Public Tours

We welcome you to discover, explore, and experience historic Crown Hill Cemetery on our award-winning tours! Led by knowledgeable guides, our tours allow you to enjoy Crown Hill and experience nature as you learn about the history and heritage of our country’s third-largest cemetery. With over 250,000+ stories to tell, we are just getting started!

Tour group sizes are limited based on the tour and all tickets must be purchased online in advance. There will be no tour tickets sold at the gate. Please get your tickets early!

For larger groups, we also offer Private Group Tours.

Also, be sure to stay up to date with the Crown Hill Foundation tours and events, and learn more about Crown Hill by subscribing to our newsletter HERE


 

  • Skeletons in the Closet Tour

    On this interesting and very popular walking tour, we’ll learn about some skeletons in the closet!

    More Details

    On this interesting and very popular walking tour, we’ll learn about some skeletons in the closet! Learn about Skiles Test and his “House of Blue Lights” along Fall Creek. Stoughton Fletcher followed in the footsteps of both his father and grandfather to become bank president, building himself a 40,000 square-foot mansion on the east side of town, but what happened to all of his fortune? Who claimed to commune with spirits in her parlor? On this tour, we’ll discuss the lives of those who show us that money does not necessarily bring happiness (spoiler alert!).

    **Note: this is not a creepy tour about ghosts, but a historical tour about those buried at Crown Hill.**


    This tour will be offered:

    October 4: 1:00 – 3:00 pm

    October 11: 1:00 – 3:00 pm

    October 18: 1:00 – 3:00 pm

    October 25: 1:00 – 3:00 pm


    Tour Tickets:

    • $10 per person (children under 5 free)
    • No gate sales, tickets must be purchased online
    • Ticket sales limited to 35 people

    Walking tour! This is a walking tour that will cover about a mile at a comfortable pace for most. 

    Where to meet: Inside 34th St. Gate in front of the Waiting Station at 3400 Boulevard Place. Arrive 10-15 min. early.

    Less Details
    Saturday, October 4 Saturday, October 11 Saturday, October 18 Saturday, October 25
      $10 per person, ages 5 and up. (Tickets not required for children under age 5.)
      1:00 - 3:00 pm
  • Stories in Stone Symbolism Tour

    This is a rare, after-hours tour with our Director of Historic Preservation! We’ll explore some interesting examples of Victorian and contemporary symbolism, how pop culture impacted what we put on our tombstones, and some of the unique markers found throughout Crown Hill.

    More Details

     

    This is a rare, after-hours tour with our Director of Historic Preservation! We’ll explore some interesting examples of Victorian and contemporary symbolism, how pop culture impacted what we put on our tombstones, and some of the unique markers found throughout Crown Hill. This tour is only offered once per year.


    Tour Tickets

    • $10 per person (children under 5 free)
    • No gate sales, tickets must be purchased online
    • Ticket sales limited to 35 people

    Walking tour! This is a walking tour that will cover about a mile at a comfortable pace for most. 

    Where to meet: Inside 34th St. Gate in front of the Waiting Station at 3400 Boulevard Place. Arrive 10-15 min. early.

    All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

    Less Details
    Saturday, October 18
      $10 per person, ages 5 and up. (Tickets not required for children under age 5.) Advance online sales only; NO gate sales.
      5:00 - 7:00 pm
  • Fall Trees Tour

    Experience fall color compliments of the trees at Crown Hill! On this tour, led by our staff arborist, we will take a closer look at some of the remarkable trees in the cemetery giving attendees a chance to appreciate the views and learn a little more about the physiology behind the season of letting go.

    More Details

    Experience fall color compliments of the trees at Crown Hill! On this tour, led by our staff arborist, we will take a closer look at some of the remarkable trees in the cemetery giving attendees a chance to appreciate the views and learn a little more about the physiology behind the season of letting go. Participants of all ages will be able to collect leaves from specimens during this tour. Please dress for the weather and off-pavement terrain.


    Tour Tickets:

    • $10 per person (children under 5 free)
    • No gate sales, tickets must be purchased online
    • Ticket sales limited to 35 people

    Walking tour! This walking tour will cover about a mile at a comfortable pace for most. 

    Where to meet: Inside 34th St. Gate in front of the Waiting Station at 3400 Boulevard Place. Arrive 10-15 min. early. 

    All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

    Less Details
    Saturday, October 25
      $10 per person, ages 5 and up. (Tickets not required for children under age 5.) Advance online sales only; NO gate sales.
      10:00 - 11:30 am
  • Civil War Tour

    Crown Hill and the Civil War – did you know that Crown Hill Cemetery was founded in 1863 because of and during the Civil War? The original city cemetery, Greenlawn, became full due to the many Civil War soldiers being buried there. The Civil War was still being fought when Crown Hill opened its gates in June 1864, and the first burial was for Lucy Ann Seaton, the young wife of a Civil War Union Captain.

    More Details

    Did you know that Crown Hill Cemetery was founded in 1863 because of and during the Civil War? The original city cemetery, Greenlawn, became full due to the many Civil War soldiers being buried there. The Civil War was still being fought when Crown Hill opened its gates in June 1864, and the first burial was for Lucy Ann Seaton, the young wife of a Civil War Union Captain. On our Civil War tour, we’ll examine the lives of the many brave soldiers and generals who took part in the War Between the States, and of the politicians, journalists, and even household servants whose lives influenced and were influenced by our country’s great conflict. Included on this tour is Civil War Union Gen. Jefferson C. Davis, the highest-ranking military officer buried at Crown Hill. (He’s not to be confused with Confederate President Jefferson Davis), General Benjamin Harrison (who would become the 23rd President of US), and Edward Black (the youngest soldier drummer boy at 8 1/2 years old).


    Tour Tickets:

    • $10 per person (children under 5 free)
    • No gate sales, tickets must be purchased online
    • Ticket sales limited to 35 people

    Walking tour! This walking tour covers approximately a mile at a comfortable pace for most participants. 

    Where to meet: Inside 34th St. Gate in front of the Waiting Station at 3400 Boulevard Place. Arrive 10-15 min. early.

    All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

    Less Details
    Saturday, November 1
      $10 per person, ages 5 and up. (Tickets not required for children under age 5.) Advance online sales only; NO gate sales.
      1:00 pm - 3:00 pm