Visit a Cemetery Day!
One of our favorite local haunts (see what we did there) is Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was established in 1863 and is the third largest (non-government) cemetery in the United States, spanning over 555 acres.
In honor of Visit a Cemetery Day, we thought we’d share our favorite spot with you! Why do we love cemeteries so much? Aside from being a great backdrop for the spooky season, graveyards are a hotspot for biodiversity! Yes, you read that right – cemeteries often house many species of flora and fauna.
Crown Hill Cemetery is home to more than 10,000 trees of roughly 130 unique species and serves as a refuse for birds, deer, and many other small animals.
It isn’t uncommon to find us on walks at Crown Hill, or just sitting among the graves reading and relaxing. Fun fact – our favorite grave to hang out near is that of Mary E. Young and Infant. We don’t know anything about Mary but her spot among the tombstones is a beautiful one and we are often found sitting next to her on a nice day.
Another fun fact – endangered prairie vegetation that had been largely wiped out by modern-day agricultural practices has been found sustaining itself in Illinois. Short Pioneer Cemetery, a dry-mesic sand prairie, sustains a total of 137 species!
If you want to know more about our local haunt and the rich history behind it, we suggest taking a look at the Crown Hill Heritage Foundation and the work they do to preserve the cemetery’s rich architectural, cultural, and historic heritage.
