ABOUT | BNCA

About Bohemian National Cemetery

Bohemian National Cemetery was founded in 1877 by eight Bohemian benevolent societies “to provide a suitable burial site for persons of Bohemian birth or extraction.” Ten years later, the cemetery was opened to all nationalities on a nonsectarian basis. John V. Benes laid out the first burial sections in the initial 40 acres using a plan similar to Chicago's street grid. An expansion to the east and south, with graceful curving sections, was mapped in 1902 by August Petrtyl. In 1906 acclaimed landscape architect Jens Jensen designed the 60 acres to the north. Bohemian National Cemetery now encompasses about 124 acres. The entrance has an 1893 Gothic Revival gatehouse, with an adjoining Arts and Crafts style waiting room added in 1907. The Renaissance Revival crematorium/columbarium, with decoration by artist John A. Mallin, was dedicated in 1919. A Classical Revival office building was built in 1926. The cemetery features memorials to veterans of the Civil War, Spanish American War, and World Wars I and II. Family mausoleums, monuments, and statuary are found throughout the cemetery. Bohemian National Cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.

The Pilgrim

A Solid bronze by Albin Polasek is one of the highlights of Bohemian National Cemetery. Larger than life, "The Pilgrim" is caught mid-stride, headed toward the Stejskal Mausoleum. If you dare to peek beneath the hood, the statue is clearly a depiction of a woman.

Legend has it that if she ever reaches her destination and enters the mausoleum doors, Doomsday has arrived.

Tomb of Anton Cermak

in Section 21

Tomb of Anton Cermak, Czech-born Mayor of Chicago, USA. Chicago, Bohemian National Cemetery, Section 21

Our Staff:

Family staffed, we have a great sense of how important family is and makes the unfortunate circumstances flow with ease and intimacy.

Staff Details Coming Soon!

"Beyond the Vines", offers Cubs fans the next best thing to a final resting place

A replica of a vine covered wall from Wrigley Field (containing cremation niches)

"Beyond the Vines," offers Cubs fans the next best thing to a final resting place under Wrigley's center field bleachers.

Covered in ivy, with a "scoreboard" perpetually set to 1:20 p.m., Vines' 24-foot-high brick wall mimics Wrigley Field's but is actually a columbarium, which is similar to a mausoleum, only for urns, not caskets.

Eastland Disaster of 1915

Many of the Eastland Disaster victims were of Czech and Slovak descent, and the Bohemian National Cemetery became the final resting place for approximately 150 victims. This is the highest number of victims' bodies buried at any Chicago cemetery. In fact, the number was so great, Section 16 at the cemetery was opened immediately following the disaster to accommodate the large number of bodies.

Our Community:

Here at Bohemian National Cemetery, we take

pride in our long-standing sense of community and praise for history. We establish relationships that we believe begins the start of healing and strength to overcome the bittersweet symphony of the natural life and death process of life.