Lake View Cemetery

You may not consider the average cemetery a perfect place for a relaxing walk, but Lake View Cemetery isn't exactly your average cemetery. The burial place for such famous figures as Eliot Ness, President James A. Garfield, John Rockefeller, Garrett A. Morgan, Adella P. Hughes and Carl B. Stokes, Lake View Cemetery is a beautiful and reflective blend of intense foliage and architecture.

The grounds of Lake View Cemetery are meticulously maintained and groomed, and the intricate stonework is nothing short of breathtaking. The Garfield Monument, a massive castle-like structure, is opened for tours April 1-Nov. 19y. The crypt below the tower entombs President Garfield and his wife Luctetia, both in bronze caskets -- the president's draped in an American flag.

The Wade Chapel is open along with the Garfield Monument and is staffed with a personal guide during operating hours. The chapel was founded in 1901 to honor Jeptha Wade, the founder of the Western Union Telegraph Company.

The chapel's interior was designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany of the famous Tiffany and Company. Intricate stained glass windows and mosaics immortalize some of Wade's favorite biblical passages.

The Rockefeller Monument is a 70-foot-tall stele. The upright stone  stands above the tomb of the founder of Standard Oil and, at the time, richest man in the world.

The variety of foliage and highly detailed statues make for beautful pictures. The serene backdrop includes rare plants and flowers. The cemetery employs a full time horticulturalist to plan and oversee the foliage. Daffodil Hill, a collection of more than 100,000 of these golden beauties is one of the cemetery's biggest attractions in the springtime.

- by LeeAnn Mullen, Cleveland Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

LeeAnn Mullen

LeeAnn Mullen is a freelance journalist from Cleveland, Ohio. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism is currently furthering her education by studying for an additional degree in information systems management. Mullen has written for several Cleveland-area newspapers, online publications and dozens of private clients. Her topics of specialty include health, technology and travel.