🌳⚰️ Secrets of Rosehill Cemetery: Chicago History Tour with Jeanette📜🍂

🌳⚰️ Secrets of Rosehill Cemetery: Chicago History Tour with Jeanette📜🍂

Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago is more than just a burial ground; it’s the city’s largest and one of the oldest "garden cemeteries," known for its roster of famous (and infamous) occupants, captivating monuments, and striking art. Everyone from hot dog king Oscar F. Meyer to victims of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre resides here, but the graves of lesser-known Chicagoans hold the true intrigue of Rosehill.

📅 Saturday, September 27, 2025
🕛 Meet at 12:00 PM
📍 Rosehill Cemetery Main Gate – 5800 Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL
💵 Cost: $20 per person | Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle accepted (pay at start)
🌦️ Outdoors | Casual pace | Rain or shine

Special Guest Tour Guide: Jeanette

Join us for a 1.5-mile guided stroll through this historic 350-acre cemetery. Founded in 1859, Rosehill features Gothic-style entry gates, Victorian-era monuments, grand mausoleums, incredible statuary, and beautiful shade trees. As you wander the serene grounds, you’ll learn about its rich history, fascinating residents, and unique architecture.

🌳 What You’ll See & Learn:

• Joliet-limestone entrance gate (1864) by William W. Boyington, architect of the Chicago Water Tower and Old University of Chicago (also buried here)
• Rosehill Cemetery Administration Building and Entry Gate, listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1975
• Monuments notable for beauty and eccentricity, including Lulu Fellows
• Graves of famous Chicagoans, historical figures, and lesser-known residents with intriguing stories
• Art, architecture, and symbolism interwoven with Chicago history

🎙️ Your Guide: Jeanette
With over 30 years at Dignity Memorial Cemeteries, Jeanette brings expert knowledge, engaging storytelling, and a deep understanding of Rosehill’s people, art, and architecture.

👣 Tour Details:

• 1.5 miles, approx. 2 hours
• Outdoors, casual pace
• If raining, the tour moves indoors to the mausoleum

🎒 What to Bring:

• Water 💧
• Comfy walking shoes 👟
• $20 tour fee 💵 (Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle)
• Umbrella/rain jacket ☔
• Camera 📸—plenty of photo opportunities!

🙌 It’s a multi-meetup group event

🍽️ Optional Lunch: Fireside Restaurant, 5739 Ravenswood (cash only; no separate checks)

🚇 Public Transit: Check Rosehill website, Google Maps, or CTA Trip Planner
🚗 Parking: Cemetery lot & nearby side streets (watch for no-parking or permit-only signs)

🙌 RSVP responsibly—do not be a no show!

🌿 Why Rosehill?
Founded in 1859, the 350-acre Rosehill Cemetery is the largest—and one of the oldest—cemeteries in Chicago. Walking through the magnificent Gothic-style gate, you’ll feel transported from the bustle of the city into a serene landscape of Victorian monuments, grand mausoleums, incredible statuary, and lovely shade trees.

The name "Rosehill" resulted from a City Clerk's error—the area was previously called "Roe's Hill," after nearby farmer Hiram Roe. He refused to sell his land until it was promised the cemetery would bear his name.

Like its sister cemetery Graceland, Rosehill is home to many well-known Chicagoans. Its monuments range from elegant to eccentric, reflecting the city’s rich history and artistry.