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Gates of the cemetery at 34th & Boulevard.
Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery was established in 1864, 44 years after the founding of Indianapolis. The city had outgrown its original 25-acre cemetery on the southwest side, and the deaths resulting from the Civil War had compounded the problem. The city purchased 240 acres on the northwest side. Since then the cemetery has grown to over 500 acres. The cemetery is home to the dead from most of Indianapolis' prominent families, including the Lillys and Eiteljorgs, as well as President Benjamin Harrison, bank robber John Dillinger, and poet James Whitcomb Riley. Riley is entombed at the top of the hill that gives the cemetery its name. Crown Hill is the highest point in Indianapolis, and affords a great view of the city skyline. The cemetery offers educational programs and tours throughout the year, and is also home to the Indiana AIDS Memorial and the Anatomical Gift Memorial, which honors those who donate their corpses to Indiana University.
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Gates of the cemetery at 34th & Boulevard.
Getting there:
by car: Take Meridian North to 34th Street. Turn left. 34th Street leads you directly the the gates of the cemetery at 34th and Boulevard (about 4 blocks west of Meridian).
by bike: same as above; this should be a pretty easy bike ride on weekends, but look out if you're trying this on weekdays or game days (using Delaware Street instead of Meridian to get north from downtown is a viable alternative). This route will take you through one questionable neighborhood (where I used to live, actually), but it's unlikely you'll experience any trouble during daylight.
Costs:
free
Links: