Follow
We are the oldest continuously operating, non-denominational cemetery in Detroit. The cemetery was established in 1846 and incorporated in 1849 as a non-profit corporation by an act of the Michigan Legislature. Founded by some of early Detroit’s leading citizens, Elmwood quickly expanded from its original 42 acres to its current size of 86 acres and became the final resting-place of tycoon and laborer alike.
Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit is one of Michigan's most important historic cemeteries. Located at 1200 Elmwood Street in Detroit's Eastside Historic Cemetery District, Elmwood is the oldest continuously operating, non-denominational cemetery in Michigan.
The cemetery was dedicated October 8, 1846, as a rural cemetery and incorporated as a non-profit corporation by Special Act 62 of the Michigan Legislature on March 5, 1849. The first burial occurred three weeks prior to the dedication on September 10, 1846. Founded by some of early Detroit's leading residents, Elmwood originally covered 42 acres. Over time, it expanded to encompass 86 acres (350,000 m2) and is the final resting-place of many notable Detroiters as well as ordinary citizens. In 1850, however, the cemetery became slightly smaller when Temple Beth El purchased one-half acre to establish what is now Michigan's oldest Jewish cemetery. The State of Michigan designated it as a State Historic Site in 1975.
Elmwood was the first fully racially-integrated cemetery in the Midwest. A short distance from downtown Detroit, Elmwood continues to serve residents of all ethnic backgrounds and religious beliefs.
Elmwood's park-like grounds containing a gently-flowing stream and low hills were designed in 1890 by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. They are based on the design of Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The Gothic Revival chapel on the grounds was constructed in 1856. It underwent renovation in 1961 and was destroyed by fire in 1976. With a public outpouring of support, the building was restored and continues to play an important role.
In 1874, the state of Michigan purchased a section to inter Civil War veterans and in 1876, the Firemen's Lot was dedicated with a monument that depicts firefighting equipment and the fire hall that once stood at the corner of the present Renaissance Center on Randolph and Jefferson Avenue. The Civil War section holds 205 graves today.
The Gothic Revival gatehouse was added in 1876 and in 2003 its portal was closed and filled with a reception room designed to harmonize with the historic architecture. The gate was closed because it was unable to accommodate larger vehicles which needed access to the grounds.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmwood_Cemetery_(Detroit)
The Elmwood Cemetery charges $5.00 per name or $25.00 per family lot to provide the exact burial location in the cemetery. In order to determine burial locations, researchers are required to fill out a request form and to provide a credit card number by phone or fax. The request form must be mailed or faxed (313-567-8861) to the Cemetery with payment information. The wait for a response from the Cemetery is generally two weeks.
Elmwood Cemetery, in Detroit’s Eastside Historic Cemetery District, is the oldest continuously-operating non-denominational cemetery in Michigan. In 1846, 42 acres of land for a cemetery was purchased for $1,850 from the George Hunt Farm in Hamtramck Township by a group of prominent Detroiters. After multiple additional land purchases, the cemetery now covers 86 acres. In 1850 Temple Beth El purchased a half-acre piece of nearby land for $150. This land was then acquired by Elmwood Cemetery but is still maintained by the temple.
On the western side of the cemetery runs historic Bloody Run Creek. The creek was originally named Parent’s Creek, for early Detroiter Joseph Parent, whose name appears in the records of Ste. Anne’s Church. On July 31, 1763, the creek was renamed Bloody Run following Chief Pontiac’s uprising which resulted in the deaths of British Captain Dalzell and 160 of his men. This portion of the cemetery has been preserved by the Elmwood Cemetery trustees as an historic area with a plaque memorializing that event.
The grounds of the cemetery were redesigned by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted in 1890. His park-like design was inspired by Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts and now contains stately groves of more than 1,400 trees, which in 2015 earned Elmwood Cemetery the designation as Detroit’s first certified arboretum. A Gothic Revival chapel was built in 1856 and, following multiple restorations, the chapel is still in use. In 1870, Gordon Lloyd designed a Gothic-inspired gatehouse that was built in 1876. The cemetery is also home to multiple monuments by notable sculptors, including “Flying Geese” by Marshall Fredericks and “Veiled Lady” by Randolph Rogers.
In 1874, the State of Michigan purchased a portion of the Elmwood Cemetery to bury veterans of the Civil War. The graves of 205 Civil War veterans are located there. In 1876, a Fireman’s Lot was dedicated as well, with a monument depicting firefighting equipment.
Among the notable Detroiters buried there are many people who played a political role in the city and state: 29 Detroit mayors including Coleman A. Young, six governors including Lewis Cass, and 11 senators. Other notable Detroiters buried there are Bernhard Stroh, founder of the Stroh Brewery, Fred "Sonic" Smith, guitarist of the Detroit rock band MC5, and radio personality Martha Jean Steinberg.
The State of Michigan designated Elmwood Cemetery as a State Historic Site in 1975.