I can't believe there hasn't been a thread on this!



What are the must-see monuments in the metro area? Famous people are all right, but I'm more interested in impressive carvings and structures like the mauseoleum at Calvary.

I can't remember if it's Bellefontaine or Calvary, but the Adolphus Busch mauseoleum is pretty impressive. There are a lot of cool gravesites up there but try not to get lost.

high hat, snare, crash cymbal.

trent wrote:high hat, snare, crash cymbal.

I think you meant



-RBB

One of my "often overlooked" favorites is New Mt. Sinai on Gravois in Afton, I believe it’s the oldest Jewish cemetery in St. Louis. Some of the mausoleums are pretty nice and many notables are buried there including Fannie Hurst, Koplars, Mays, Steinbergs (of skating rink fame) Baer and Fuller families. There was a guide to famous St. Louis graves published a couple of years ago, its probably still available at the History Museum.

southcitygent wrote:One of my "often overlooked" favorites is New Mt. Sinai on Gravois in Afton, I believe it’s the oldest Jewish cemetery in St. Louis. Some of the mausoleums are pretty nice and many notables are buried there including Fannie Hurst, Koplars, Mays, Steinbergs (of skating rink fame) Baer and Fuller families. There was a guide to famous St. Louis graves published a couple of years ago, its probably still available at the History Museum.

That's very interesting, thanks. I've been to Calvary and Bellefountaine, but had never really herad that Mt Sinai was one to check out.

Can't beat Cahokia Mounds for a massive monumental cemetery complex.

Look here for "somewhat famous" gravesites in missouri, including pictures of the headstone/mausoleum and background information in many cases. You can also search for a particular individual's grave on this site.



The Mausoleum for Eberhard Anheuser in Bellefontaine Cemetary:







-RBB

Jean Baptiste duSable, the founder of Chicago, is also buried in St. Charles Borromeo Cemetary.

Unfortunately, the 2002 archaeological investigations of DuSable's gravesite in St. Charles turned up nothing. The debate continues. Sort of.

^the original Borromeo cemetary was just off Main Street I believe. When they moved it to the current location on Randolph Street about 2 miles northwest I imagine there wasn't much left of many of the graves they moved. Or, like in "Poltergeist" they only moved the headstones.

southsidepride wrote:^the original Borromeo cemetary was just off Main Street I believe. When they moved it to the current location on Randolph Street about 2 miles northwest I imagine there wasn't much left of many of the graves they moved. Or, like in "Poltergeist" they only moved the headstones.

Very, very common. In my line of work I have seen it at least three times in the last 2 years. One that is public record is Spanish Land Grand Park in Florissant. Most of the park is a cemetery for the old St. Ferdinand Church complex which used to be in the southeast corner of the property. The graves were supposed to have been moved in 1876 (if I remember properly), but guess what. Headstones are much easier to relocate than actual burials. Looking at the property, you would never know that there is a cemetery dating back to the late 1780's there, but believe me, that place is full of bodies.

thanks for all the info and pictures, everyone! I'm trying to put together a day tour for my friends and myself before Halloween...if I take some good pictures I'll be sure to share them with the forum!

littlestar wrote:thanks for all the info and pictures, everyone! I'm trying to put together a day tour for my friends and myself before Halloween...if I take some good pictures I'll be sure to share them with the forum!

There's nothing like a Sunday picnic amoung the gravestone on a cool, crisp October day.



I'm sitting here right now, looking at my black and white photo of a gothic masoleum in Bellfontaine, taken from a little fied trip of a few years ago. I love cemetary art.



The tip about ALton cemetaries is a good one--I'll have to check that out!



Oh and hey--there's a building near Arsenal and Fyler (can't think of the exact street.) It houses the remains (cremated, I think?) of hundreds. It's a very interesting old building. Someone here will be able to tell you the exact location and it's name. It's a strang place. I've gone in there a couple of times so I know that it is open around Memorial day if not otherwise. There is a caretaker who has a cottage on the site. It's called something like "Missouri Cremetoriam" or something like that. "Cremetoriam" is not the right word, but I can't remember what it is. It dates from the turn of the century.

I drive past it nearly every day, but I don't know if the Missouri Crematorium is still in operation?