Oak Woods Cemetery

Oak Woods Cemetery is a military cemetery in Greater Grand Crossing, Chicago, that covers several city blocks and is surrounded by mature trees. Wide and narrow paths wind through the grounds, where headstones, monuments, and mausoleums stand scattered among lawns and planted areas.

The cemetery opened its gates in 1860 and was designed according to the principles of park landscape planning. During and after the American Civil War, thousands of fallen soldiers were buried here, and their graves now occupy dedicated sections.

The grounds include sections dedicated to different religious groups, military veterans, and graves of notable figures such as Harold Washington and Jesse Owens.

The administration building on 67th Street offers maps and information about the different burial sites and monuments. Visitors can explore the grounds on foot or by car, as most paths are wide enough for vehicles.

A large mound near the southern edge of the grounds marks the resting place of more than 4000 soldiers who died at a nearby camp. This area is considered one of the largest soldier burials outside national cemeteries in the United States.