Graceland Cemetery & Arboretum

Thank you to all who came to our first installment of our Harp in the Garden series with !🪉Mark your calendars for the next one on July 10th! Our next Harp in the Garden event will be a ticketed—keep checking back for ticket information and time. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Our gates hours are regular today, but our office will close at 1:00 p.m. in observance of Memorial Day. We welcome you to visit Graceland today and honor our veterans. One of our notable veterans is Joseph R. Scott, who was the original founder of the Chicago Zouaves drill team. He turned leadership over to Ellsworth in 1858. He enlisted in the 19th Illinois Infantry when the Civil War broke out in 1861. He became the youngest colonel in state history at the age of 23. In late 1862, the 19th was in Tennessee fighting The Battle of Stone River. A phrase shouted during this battle by Brigadier General Negley was "Who will save the left?" as Confederates attacked the Union's left flank. This led to the creation of the song, "Who'll Save the Left" by Chicago songwriter George Frederick Root.

Scott was wounded in the battle and went back to Chicago to recover. He was thrown from a carriage six months later and his wounds reopened, which were fatal this time. "Ellsworth's Requiem" was played by a band at his funeral. His marker was added several years later and it was at that time that his famous exchange with General Negley was carved into his headstone.

He is buried in section A, pathway lot 26& 27, space 1.

Join us this Friday, May 22, for the debut of our new Harp in the Garden series! Harpist LeAnne will be performing a selection of songs inspired by your requests, all set within the peaceful beauty of our grounds. It will be an evening of melodies that hold a special place in musical memories.

Bonus: The Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee truck will be onsite too!

Golden hour hues

Spring has landed at Graceland Cemetery & Arboretum! Our grounds are in full bloom.

Mother's Day can be a complex time for many. On this day and every day, we offer a peaceful place of remembrance for all those who have been called Mother.

Henry Piper was born in Germany and immigrated to the United States where he founded his Chicago bakery. His operation at 1610 N. Wells Street eventually expanded to fill much of the block, complete with stables, flour storage, wagon shops, and at least ten ovens. He also helped found the Chicago Bakers Association ahead of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. Throughout the following decades, the H. Piper Baking Company grew into a major regional business, supplying breads and baked goods to 12,000 grocers across 32 states before closing its Wells Street bakery.

Following the bakery’s closure, the property entered a new era as Piper’s Alley emerged as a centerpiece of Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood. By the 1960s, the alley and surrounding Wells Street corridor were filled with restaurants, shops, and theaters, including The Second City.

His intricate mausoleum is in the Triangles lot, space 9.

Andrew McNally was born in Ireland in 1836 and moved to Chicago in 1858, when he entered the printing trade. He worked at a print shop owned by William H. Rand, where he earned $9 per week. His early career placed him at the center of a rapidly growing city, giving him the opportunity to develop both technical skill and business acumen during a transformative period in American industry.

In 1873, McNally partnered with his boss to establish Rand McNally & Co. The company quickly rose to prominence by producing railroad guides, maps, and atlases that supported the nation’s westward expansion and booming transportation networks. Rand served as president and McNally as vice president until Rand's retirement. McNally then became president. Together, their leadership and vision helped the company become one of the most recognized names in American cartography.

McNally died in 1904, in California. For nearly 100 following his death, the company was owned by generations of his family. He is buried in the Bellevue lot, pathway lot (level 18), space 10.

Music has a way of holding memory, emotion, and connection.

As we prepare for the kickoff event for the Harp in the Garden series, we invite you to share songs that feel reflective, comforting, or deeply meaningful to you.

What piece would you love to hear in this setting?

Drop your suggestions below or message us privately. We ask that submissions are made no later than May 11th so that harpist, LeAnne, has enough time to learn any new pieces.

Please keep in mind that not all suggested songs may be able to be played.

If your suggestion holds a special memory or story, we’d be honored to hear that too.

It’s Earth Day! What better way to celebrate by taking a stroll through our 2,000 trees? 🌳

Learn more through our tree tour resources:
https://www.gracelandcemetery.org/the-graceland-arboretum-tree-tour