James A. Garfield Memorial

The James A. Garfield Memorial is a mausoleum in Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland Heights, combining Byzantine, Gothic, and Romanesque architectural styles. The sandstone tower rises above a broad terrace and is framed by arches and columns that recall medieval craftsmanship.

Construction began in 1885, funded by donations from citizens across the country. Dedication took place in 1890, nine years after the president's death in 1881.

The name honors the twentieth president of the United States, who fell victim to an assassination after only a few months in office. Visitors can enter the crypt where Garfield and his wife Lucretia rest in polished granite sarcophagi.

The memorial is accessible from April through mid-November, allowing visitors to enter both the memorial hall and the crypt below. Paved paths lead from the parking area through the cemetery grounds to the tower entrance.

Inside the hall stand thirteen stained glass windows representing the original colonies and Ohio. A marble statue of the president rises in the center of the room, surrounded by natural light filtering through the colored panes.

Location: Cleveland

Inception: 1890s

Architects: George Keller, Caspar Buberl

Architectural style: Byzantine Revival architecture, Gothic Revival, Romanesque Revival architecture

GPS coordinates: 41.51000,-81.59139

Latest update: December 14, 2025 23:14