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Graveyards of Chicago : The People, History, Art, and Lore of Cook County Cemeteries
Charting the lore and lure of Chicago's ubiquitous burial grounds, this resource unearths the legends and legacies that mark the city's silent citizens—from larger-than-lifers and local heroes to machine mayors and machine-gunners. The book demonstrates that Chicago’s cemeteries are home not only to thousands of individuals who fashioned the city’s singular culture and character, but also to impressive displays of art and architecture, landscaping and limestone, egoism and ethnic pride. This edition includes all new digital photos and refreshed text in the same spirit and informal, travel-book style as the original. Mysterious questions such as Where is Al Capone buried? and What really lies beneath home plate at Wrigley Field? are answered in this reminder that although physical life must end, personal note—and notoriety—last forever.
- GenresNonfictionHistoryTravel
400 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2013
2 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 27, 2014
Do you enjoy wandering Chicago’s cemeteries? There are so many in our large city and suburbs that are unknown to most of us. Coming from the field of family history, I tend to focus and visit only the cemeteries where my ancestors or my clients’ ancestors sleep. However, this year if winter ever ends, I plan to start exploring some of the other cemeteries that surround us.
Have you seen the book Graveyards of Chicago? I received a copy of the book Graveyards of Chicago by Matt Hucke and Ursula Bielski recently to review on my blog from Lake Claremont Press.
I own a copy of the original book and loved it. This new version however is filled with so much more. Hucke and Bielski take readers through many more cemeteries and provide more in-depth context about the cemeteries and their residents. More photographs are included to showcase the art and architecture of these cemeteries to expose readers to all the beauty that surrounds us. I had no idea such art was available in these cemeteries.
The book is broken into sections of the city so you can focus on one area if you choose. Why not take a day and go exploring? Don’t forget the book and your camera! There are QR codes within each cemetery listing so you can learn more and a few sections in the book that provide contextual information like “50 (Thousand) Ways To Leave Your Loved Ones: Burial Customs To Die For.” Excellent information for genealogists who want to know more about the customs of their ancestors.
The back of the book contains information on cemetery preservation and contains a bibliography of selected sources so researchers can wander down new research paths to learn more! I really love bibliographies personally because they introduce me to works I usually have no idea exist.
I encourage you to pick up a copy of this book and make plans to explore these amazing cities of the dead this year. Have you explored some already? What are your favorites? Please share in the comments below. Then check out Lake Claremont Press’ website for additional books on Chicago history, art, architecture, food, and reference guides. They have a wide selection of incredible books.
Have you seen the book Graveyards of Chicago? I received a copy of the book Graveyards of Chicago by Matt Hucke and Ursula Bielski recently to review on my blog from Lake Claremont Press.
I own a copy of the original book and loved it. This new version however is filled with so much more. Hucke and Bielski take readers through many more cemeteries and provide more in-depth context about the cemeteries and their residents. More photographs are included to showcase the art and architecture of these cemeteries to expose readers to all the beauty that surrounds us. I had no idea such art was available in these cemeteries.
The book is broken into sections of the city so you can focus on one area if you choose. Why not take a day and go exploring? Don’t forget the book and your camera! There are QR codes within each cemetery listing so you can learn more and a few sections in the book that provide contextual information like “50 (Thousand) Ways To Leave Your Loved Ones: Burial Customs To Die For.” Excellent information for genealogists who want to know more about the customs of their ancestors.
The back of the book contains information on cemetery preservation and contains a bibliography of selected sources so researchers can wander down new research paths to learn more! I really love bibliographies personally because they introduce me to works I usually have no idea exist.
I encourage you to pick up a copy of this book and make plans to explore these amazing cities of the dead this year. Have you explored some already? What are your favorites? Please share in the comments below. Then check out Lake Claremont Press’ website for additional books on Chicago history, art, architecture, food, and reference guides. They have a wide selection of incredible books.
July 31, 2018
From ghoulies and ghosties
And long-leggedly beasties
And things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord, deliver us!
- Traditional Scottich Prayer
And believe me Chicago has it shares!
Matt Hucke and Ursula Bielski has teamed up, again, to write the second edition of "Graveyards of Chicago." This is an in-depth look at every cemetery, not only within the City of Chicago limits, but also in the suburbs and elsewhere in Illinois.
What Hucke and Bielski give the reader is just not the haunts of the graveyards, but a complete history and background about the graveyards such as when it was established, who started it, and who now owns it. They also go on to tell you about who are buried in these profiled cemeteries. You will be surprised as to who is buried in the Chicagoland area.
A good book for reference; a good book for traversing the graveyards.
And long-leggedly beasties
And things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord, deliver us!
- Traditional Scottich Prayer
And believe me Chicago has it shares!
Matt Hucke and Ursula Bielski has teamed up, again, to write the second edition of "Graveyards of Chicago." This is an in-depth look at every cemetery, not only within the City of Chicago limits, but also in the suburbs and elsewhere in Illinois.
What Hucke and Bielski give the reader is just not the haunts of the graveyards, but a complete history and background about the graveyards such as when it was established, who started it, and who now owns it. They also go on to tell you about who are buried in these profiled cemeteries. You will be surprised as to who is buried in the Chicagoland area.
A good book for reference; a good book for traversing the graveyards.
August 29, 2023
What a wonderful book. Unfortunately for me, there was no large type/print edition so it took me quite awhile to read the book. Early in the book I almost gave up because of the small type, but fortunately, I persevered. Even if you're not from Chicago, this book was so interesting. Much more than just graveyards. There were some beautiful, some disturbing, but mainly interesting stories of many people buried in the Chicago graveyards. So much research went into putting this book together. The only complaint I have, the only reason I didn't give this 5 stars, was that the few pictures in the book were all black & white. The book would have been so much better with color photo's and if there would have been a lot more photo's of the gravestones.
June 16, 2021
If you find cemeteries or graveyards fascinating, you will love this book. Being a lifelong Chicago area resident and having been to handful of these places (as many family members are buried there), I learned a lot more about who is buried in the area, about hauntings that I had not heard of before (and several that are very well known) and great history of the areas.
November 14, 2018
Need to check this out again for the October field trips
June 15, 2014
Detailed guide to the architecture, lore and people of Chicago cemeteries.
March 22, 2016
Interesting information. Not for everyone.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews