CLEVELAND, Ohio – Just in time for Halloween, Canalway is launching the first Cleveland Buried History Days, a four-day series highlighting five of Cleveland’s historic cemeteries. Programming runs from Thursday, October 24 to Sunday, October 27. During that time people are invited to attend tours, hikes, presentations and even trick-or-treat in cemeteries.
These burial grounds are significant repositories of historic information. Through a series of 11 events, guests will engage with the spaces and learn stories of the city’s past. Participating cemeteries include Woodland Cemetery, Riverside Cemetery, Lake View Cemetery, Monroe Street Cemetery, and Erie Street Cemetery as well as other history organizations.
“Historic cemeteries were our first parks and greenspaces and hold beautiful art and architecture,” said Mera Cardenas, executive director of Canalway. Canalway is a cultural heritage organization that serves as a catalyst for projects and programs within the Ohio & Erie Canalway.
“They also afford us the chance to learn more about the lives and death of past Clevelanders.”
Despite the spooky season and cemetery locations, events are designed to enlighten, not frighten. Attendees will learn about the lives of Clevelanders as early as the 1800s.
Presentations by Krista Horrocks of the State Historic Preservation Office, and the Ohio History Connection’s resident cemetery expert, will help participants understand the symbols on gravestones and become more informed cemetery visitors.
Some events offer refreshments, other suggest bringing a lunch. All require good walking shoes.
If you can’t make an event, you can still visit the cemeteries.
- Woodland Cemetery is open daily from dawn to dusk.
- Monroe Street Cemetery is open daily from dawn to dusk.
- Riverside Cemetery is open daily 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Erie Street Cemetery is open daily from dawn to dusk.
- Lake View Cemetery is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., November 1 to March 31 and 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. April 1 to October 31.
- Wade Memorial Chapel at Lake View Cemetery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for guided tours.
- James A. Garfield Memorial at Lake View Cemetery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for guided tours.
Ticket prices vary from free to $20. Most events require registration. For the event schedule and ticketing, visit www.clevelandhistorydays.com
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