Greenwood Cemetery, cemetery in Rockford, Illinois
Greenwood Cemetery is a cemetery in Rockford covering more than 100 acres with mature trees and headstones spanning over 150 years. A chapel built in 1891 displays Richardsonian Romanesque architecture and is surrounded by wide paths lined with hundreds of graves.
The cemetery was established at its current location in 1852 after relocating from an earlier site with 175 graves moved to the new spot. The chapel, built in 1891, was designed by Chicago architect Henry Lord Gay in Richardsonian Romanesque style.
The cemetery serves as a community space for quiet walks and remembrance. Visitors appreciate the mature trees, the old headstones, and the tradition of honoring veterans with flowers and memorial services.
The grounds are open to visitors and allow dog walkers to bring leashed dogs. Improved signage helps guide visitors, and benches along the paths provide places to sit while exploring the area on foot.
Abraham Lincoln visited Rockford in 1855 to see a machine called the Northern Illinois Reaper invented by John H. Manny, whose grave is located here. This connection to Lincoln's early career makes the cemetery a site of national historical interest.
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