Calvary Catholic Cemetery
A Taphophile Tour in Evanston, IL
I recently met up with a friend in Chicago, although we stayed about 12 miles north of the city, in Evanston, IL. Given my interests, it was to my great delight that our condo overlooked a 92-acre cemetery. Needless to say, I made time to explore Calvary Catholic Cemetery—the oldest established by the Archdiocese of Chicago—and it is truly a gem. For your vicarious pleasure, I’ll share a few reasons you might want to make a visit yourself.
Meet Me at the Cemetery Gates
The entrance gate on the Chicago Avenue side has wowed visitors since Calvary opened in 1859. (Note that I did risk life and limb to snap a photo of the gate from across the street, the angle of those above, but morning lighting favored the view from inside.) The architect of the gate, James J. Egan, is now also a resident.
Exhuming McCarthy
Some of the cemeteries’ occupants died well before Calvary officially opened, as around 35,000 burials from the downtown Chicago City Cemetery—now Lincoln Park—were supposed to be disinterred and sent to other then-rural cemeteries, including Calvary. (Recent research by Pamela Bannos estimates that the skeletal remains of around 12,000 individuals were unaccounted for after the disinterments ended—and bones have been discovered as recently as 2008. The twists of that story have been wonderfully documented in her Hidden Truths project.) Today, Calvary has more than 200,000 occupants.
Bury My Lovely
To put it mildly, a whole lot of rich folks are buried at Calvary—including six Chicago mayors (one of whom was female), industry giants, and owners of sports teams. This means that visitors have an inordinate number of mausoleums to ogle. I particularly enjoyed the variety of door designs, with their enchanting patina.
And don’t forget to take a peek inside the mausoleums’ front doors, just in case there is any stained glass (or restless spirits?) to admire.
Oh Danny Boy
I knew it was an Catholic cemetery, but I didn’t know just how Irish the residents were. In addition to Irish surnames, the monuments were as rich with symbolism as any cemetery on the Emerald Isle—the claddagh representing loyalty, friendship, and love; the Celtic crosses; the knotwork; the shamrock …
The Dead Show
There are a lot of memorable monuments at Calvary Catholic Cemetery: a sunken mausoleum, sculptures of angels and saints, and even a statue of a small boy inside a glass-fronted stone tower. Nine-year-old Josie Lyon was a dapper, young Victorian boy who died of diphtheria in 1891 and whose loss was obviously deeply felt.
Down by the Water
Perhaps most surprising of all is Calvary’s close proximity to Lake Michigan. I mean it’s right there. Seemed to me like questionable judgment on the part of the original planners and, sure enough, in 1869 a legislative act was passed prohibiting additional burial grounds within one mile of the water line, for fear of contamination. Still, the location certainly adds to a memorable excursion.
Be sure to check out the official Calvary Catholic Cemetery video for a nice, minute-and-a-half overview, complete with drone footage:
Calvary Catholic Cemetery is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Right next to the gate is the chapel / office, which offers public restrooms, as well as a few historic photos, paper maps, and a digital kiosk to locate particular graves.
beautiful pictures - so much to appreciate there.
Lovely photos. I ❤️ cemeteries. I'll add this to my list.