9 Ohio Cemeteries That Attract More Visitors Than Some Parks

Ohio’s historic cemeteries aren’t just final resting places – they’re outdoor museums packed with art, history, and even a few ghostly tales. While most folks head to parks for their outdoor adventures, thousands flock to these hallowed grounds each year for their beauty, famous residents, and spooky legends. I’ve explored them all and can’t wait to share these incredible burial grounds that rival many state parks in visitor numbers.

1. Woodland Cemetery: Dayton’s Celebrity-Filled Hill

If celebrity spotting is your thing, Woodland Cemetery in Dayton won’t disappoint. The Wright Brothers, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and Erma Bombeck all rest beneath its shady trees. Founded in 1841, this rural cemetery sits on a wooded hill with views that once inspired Wilbur and Orville’s flying dreams.

What makes Woodland special is how it balances natural beauty with historical significance. Massive oaks and sugar maples create a cathedral-like atmosphere around ornate Victorian monuments. The cemetery’s arboretum status means tree identification tags accompany many plantings.

My favorite time to visit is during their lantern tours, when costumed interpreters bring the stories of Dayton’s famous dead to life. The cemetery’s butterfly garden, planted near Erma Bombeck’s grave, attracts both insects and readers who leave pens in tribute to the humorist.

2. Mound Cemetery: Marietta’s Ancient Mystery Spot

Where else can you find Revolutionary War officers buried atop a 2,000-year-old Native American burial mound? Only at Marietta’s Mound Cemetery, established in 1801. The massive Adena culture mound at its center creates a surreal time-travel experience – ancient Indigenous history literally supporting early American graves.

History nerds (like me) get especially excited about the Revolutionary War officers buried here. Mound Cemetery contains more Revolutionary War officers than any other cemetery in America, including General Rufus Putnam, who founded Marietta.

Though smaller than Ohio’s grand Victorian cemeteries, Mound Cemetery’s unique layering of American history draws archaeology enthusiasts and history professors leading field trips. The cemetery’s location near the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio Rivers provides beautiful views that rival those at nearby Riverfront Park, especially at sunset when the mound casts long shadows across centuries of American history.

3. Glenwood Cemetery: Toledo’s Spooky Victorian Wonderland

Ghost hunters and Victorian architecture fans share space at Toledo’s Glenwood Cemetery, established in 1857. The cemetery’s gothic chapel and mausoleum look like they’ve been plucked straight from a Hammer horror film, which explains why paranormal investigation groups regularly conduct nighttime tours here.

What draws me back to Glenwood are the elaborate family monuments – weeping angels, Egyptian obelisks, and even a life-sized sculpture of a dog guarding his master’s grave. The cemetery’s rolling hills and mature oak trees create dramatic vistas that photographers love, especially in foggy weather.

Among its notable residents is Morrison Waite, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. During October, Glenwood’s popularity skyrockets with historical Halloween tours that sell out faster than many haunted house attractions. Their annual “Night of the Living History” event, where actors portray Toledo’s famous deceased, draws crowds that rival Toledo Botanical Garden’s special events.

4. Spring Grove Cemetery: Cincinnati’s Garden of Graves

Walking through Spring Grove’s 733 acres feels more like strolling through an arboretum than a cemetery. Founded in 1845, this national historic landmark draws thousands of visitors who come for its breathtaking landscape design and Victorian funerary monuments rather than to mourn.

Tree enthusiasts particularly love this place – it boasts over 1,200 plant species and serves as both botanical garden and outdoor sculpture gallery. My favorite spot is the Gothic Revival chapel with its stunning stained glass that casts rainbow patterns across marble floors.

Fun fact: Spring Grove pioneered the “lawn plan” cemetery design in America, replacing crowded, gloomy graveyards with park-like settings. Photography clubs, history buffs, and architecture students regularly tour the grounds alongside mourners.

5. Green Lawn Cemetery: Columbus’s Birdwatcher’s Paradise

While most cemeteries attract history buffs, Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus has developed a surprising fan base: birdwatchers. Established in 1848, this 360-acre cemetery has been designated an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society, with over 200 species spotted among its trees and ponds.

Every weekend, you’ll find birders with binoculars wandering between graves, searching for migrating warblers and resident hawks. The cemetery encourages this unique use by providing bird checklists and hosting regular bird walks led by local experts.

Of course, Green Lawn still fulfills its primary purpose as a historic cemetery. Notable burials include five Ohio governors, artist Alice Schille, and World War I flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker. The cemetery’s arboretum status means it’s also popular with tree enthusiasts who come to see specimens not found in Columbus’s regular parks, making it busier than many official nature preserves.

6. Oak Grove Cemetery: Delaware’s Presidential Pilgrimage Site

History teachers and presidential trivia fans regularly make pilgrimages to Delaware’s Oak Grove Cemetery to visit one particular grave: Rutherford B. Hayes’ mother. While the 19th president himself is buried elsewhere, his birthplace and family connections make this cemetery a must-visit for presidential history completists.

Founded in 1851, Oak Grove’s appeal extends beyond its Hayes connection. The cemetery’s impressive collection of Victorian monuments includes unusual zinc “white bronze” markers that have survived better than many stone markers of the same era. I was fascinated to learn that these metallic monuments were sold through Sears catalogs in the late 1800s.

During Ohio Wesleyan University’s parents’ weekends, the cemetery sees a surprising influx of visitors as students show their families the historic grounds adjacent to campus. The cemetery’s tree-lined drives and well-maintained grounds make it a popular spot for local joggers who prefer its quiet paths to crowded city parks.

7. Grandview Cemetery: Chillicothe’s Ancient Overlook

Perched high above the Scioto River Valley, Grandview Cemetery lives up to its name with sweeping views that rival any scenic overlook in Ohio. Established in 1875, this cemetery sits adjacent to ancient Hopewell culture earthworks, creating a continuous timeline of human history spanning thousands of years.

Though smaller than Cincinnati or Cleveland’s famous cemeteries, Grandview draws archaeology enthusiasts who come for its proximity to the Hopewell Mound Group. After exploring ancient history, visitors often wander through the cemetery to find the graves of Chillicothe’s founding families.

The cemetery’s hillside location creates dramatic terraced sections with stone retaining walls that look like something from a European village. During the annual “History Alive” event, local actors portray notable residents buried here, drawing crowds that sometimes exceed those at nearby Yoctangee Park. The cemetery’s highest point offers panoramic views of the ancient Scioto River Valley that have remained largely unchanged since Hopewell times.

8. Union Cemetery: Columbus’s Legendary Haunted Grounds

Ghost hunters from across America travel to Columbus’s Union Cemetery for one reason: to catch a glimpse of the “Lady in White,” arguably Ohio’s most famous ghost. Established in 1806, this is one of the oldest cemeteries in central Ohio, and according to paranormal enthusiasts, one of America’s most haunted locations.

Beyond its spectral reputation, Union Cemetery contains fascinating history. Revolutionary War veterans rest here alongside Civil War soldiers from both North and South. The cemetery’s older section features primitive sandstone markers with folk art carvings that anthropologists study for clues about early Ohio settler culture.

Though relatively small at 25 acres, Union Cemetery draws more visitors during October than many state parks see all year. Paranormal investigation groups conduct regular tours, and on Halloween night, the line of cars passing slowly through can stretch for blocks. Even skeptics like me appreciate the cemetery’s historic monuments and the bizarre cultural phenomenon its ghost stories have created.

9. Lake View Cemetery: Cleveland’s Outdoor Art Museum

Perched on a hill overlooking Lake Erie, Lake View Cemetery has been Cleveland’s most prestigious address since 1869 – even if all its residents are permanent. The cemetery’s crown jewel is President James A.

Garfield’s massive memorial, a 180-foot tall Romanesque tower that offers panoramic views of the city.

Though smaller than Spring Grove, Lake View packs more famous residents per acre. I’ve spent hours hunting for the graves of John D. Rockefeller, Elliot Ness, and Alan Freed (who coined the term “rock and roll”).

The Wade Chapel shouldn’t be missed – it features an interior completely designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. During autumn, the cemetery’s mature maple trees burst into fiery colors, drawing photographers and leaf-peepers who might otherwise head to state parks.