Weekend Journal

Lake View Cemetery Field Trip

Last week, my Thursday morning journaling class and I took a trip into Cleveland to visit the Lake View Cemetery.  I have to admit that I had never been there. (Why is it we tend not to visit these places that are so close to home?)

Lake View Cemetery was established in 1869 and is the final resting place for such notables as the 20th President of the United States, James A. Garfield,  Eliot Ness,  John D. Rockefeller, and 22 Cleveland Mayors.  The cemetery is 285 acres of what was originally an arboretum, and it continues to be a working cemetery.  (Click on any photo to enlarge)

Wade Chapel

One would never suspect that this quiet, unassuming structure would contain such history and magnificent beauty within it's interior.  I was absolutely blown away when I walked through the four ton, bronze doors.
Our docent, Wayne, was incredibly knowledgeable and eagerly answered all of our questions.  Wade Chapel Chapel was built in the memory of Jeptha Wade who was the first president of Lake View Cemetery.  The interior, largely made with favrile glass, was entirely designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany.  Tiffany designed 15 of these interiors, and Wade Chapel is only one of 7 that remain.

Forty men and women worked on the interior and it took 2 years to build at a cost of $210.00.  If it were to be built today, the cost would be a whopping $5.5 million!  The lanterns are made of alabaster and weight 1,800 pounds each.

Images from the walls.  I can't tell you how breath taking they are, and the pictures don't do justice to just how magnificent they are.

Not even the floors, ceilings or pews were without the stunning mosaic glass.

It was awe inspiring to be standing in such beauty and history, but we finally made our way to the James A. Garfield Monument.

James A. Garfield Monument

James A. Garfield was a much loved president.  He died several months after surviving the initial surgery from his assassin's bullet.  Unfortunately, his likely demise was due to his physician's lack of today's standard  sterile protocols. 

At the time of his death, half of the country's millionaires lived here in Cleveland on Euclid Avenue in what was known as "millionaire's row".  They could have easily paid for this monument themselves, but they wanted Garfield's monument to be a monument of the people.  Funds were sent by all 13 colonies, and the colonies are represented throughout the monument.  President Garfield and his wife rest side by side, and their caskets are on full display in the crypt.  Their daughter, Molly, and her husband rest in urns at the head of the coffin.

Garfield's monument is rich with mosaics, marble, and stained glass windows.  Here are some of the photos I took on our tour.

To read more about Lake View Cemetery, Wade Chapel, and the James A. Garfield Monument, go HERE.  It was a cold, rainy day when we took our trip, so I can't wait to get back and tour the grounds.  I saw some fabulous monuments and statuary that beg for rubbings and photographs.  I hope you enjoyed my tour!

This is enough inspiration to keep me busy in my art journals for quite some time!  I hope you're finding lots of inspiration for your journaling muse as you "Celebrate, LOVE, and Create!"