A Sunday Ride to Historic Crown Hill Cemetery

Crown Hill Cemetary If you are into genealogy or history, this is an interesting place to visit. Located at 700 W. 38th Street, the cemetery has 555 acres of grass, hills, plots, monuments and beautiful trees. "The Crown," is known as the highest hill (842.21 ft.) in Marion County. This is also the resting place of James Riley. The picture to the right of downtown was taken from that hill. Prior to becoming a cemetery, this location was a private farm where many came to picnic and view the downtown area.

Dedicated on June 1, 1864, it became the resting spot for 1,616 of the Union Soldier prisioners that had been buried in Green Lawn Cemetery prior to the end of the war. In fact, during the war, Camp Morton was located north of Indianapolis. It was a large prison war camp. In 1993 a Confederate Mound was erected to commemorate these soldiers..

Here's a few of the famous people buried here: James Whitcomb Riley the famous poet, known for his writings on "Little Orphan Annie." John Dillinger, the famous bank robber, Benjamin Harrison, our 23rd United States President and several other people. Bob in front of Riley Cyndi

If you would like to know more about specific tours that are available visit TOURS. For more history and geneology click information to view more specifics.

Posted Monday Apr 23

(04/23/07 07:00PM) — Mike Mueller

Cynthia -

You caught my attention with the Sunday Ride. Being a life long motorcyclist the words popped out. Coincidently, my wife is a genealogist and we travel each year to far away places and dig around in cemetaries.

This last summer we were in south in NC, TN and a bunch of KY here and there. I love the battlefield history and this is one place to put on our list.

Now we just need to find a "McDowell" buried there and I know where we'll be this summer!

(04/23/07 08:47PM) — Cynthia Sloop

Mike -

thanks for stopping by my post. At one time I was doing a lot of digging in family history. I've got a bunch of stuff but haven't been actively doing it for a few years now. I do like visiting old cemeteries. Some of the headstones are very interesting. If you ever get a chance to visit Crown Hill I believe you'll like the grounds. You'll also have to visit the Benjamin Harrison home and James Riley's home. There's a war memorial at the circle downtown you'd probably like too. Let us know if you do make it this way, maybe we can meet for coffee or something.

(04/24/07 12:41AM) — Jennifer Fivelsdal, Rhinebeck NY

Cynthia _ great job. I once thought of doing a blog on a local cemetery but my husband thought I was nuts. This is the second cemetery post I have seen on AR so I am happy to see I am sane.

(04/24/07 01:04AM) — Central Oregon Real Estate | Thesa Chambers, Broker

Cynthia - I love old cemeteries - there is so much to learn about an area and our country just by taking a stroll through one. There is a cemetery at the foot of Ft. Rock in the Oregon Desert - one of the grave markers simply says "Horse Thief" makes me wonder - at one time there was a name on it... the name was removed years ago. I lwould love to visit this one... wow that is some great history.

(04/24/07 11:46AM) — Lysa Napolitano, Call Coordinator ~ Century 21 Sundance

Hiya Cyndi! Ok, you had me just a lil nervous when I saw the words "famous people buried" and you and Bobs photo's underneath! But then you went on to mention names! Hey there's nothing wrong with old cemeteries! Even though I live in one of the oldest area's in the US (ST. Augustine is the first city in the US) there aren't many old cemeteries like up north and I miss reading the old tombstones for some reason. I guess they show a history of the area.

(04/24/07 01:12PM) — Bob Sloop, Consultant, Indianapolis, IN

Here we are, me the dorky looking dude, shame on you for putting me on here, THANKS TO STEVE, but I loved our time here and we will go back and make more time for it.

(04/24/07 02:17PM) — Danny Smith

Cynthia, history intrigues me. I could read about it or watch documentary's of it on TV all day. Our State cemetery is here in Austin and there are supposed to be a lot of famous people there such as Sydney Porter better known as O Henry. Perhaps I'll go out there one day and take pics for a blog. Thanks