Springfield's Oak Ridge Cemetery

Welcome To Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois

“On May 14, 1856, an ordinance was passed forbidding the further establishment of burying grounds within the city of Springfield. A tract of land containing twenty-eight and one half acres, lying two miles north of the Capitol, was purchased by the City, for the establishment of a Cemetery, adequate to the necessities of the growing city, and sufficiently remote from the business center and every - day life to render a fitting abode to the dead.”  (Oak Ridge Cemetery Records)

Since 1865, the cemetery has grown to be the largest Municipal cemetery in the state of Illinois, encompassing 365 acres of beautiful rolling prairie land, thousands of hardwoods and conifers, and over 75,000 interments. Oak Ridge Cemetery has the distinction of being the second most visited cemetery in the nation, second only to Arlington National Cemetery.  Almost one million visitors enter our gates annually not only to pay respects to their deceased families and ancestors, but to also visit the final resting place and pay homage to our distinguished sixteenth President, Abraham Lincoln.

Over eighty other notable dignitaries are interred at Oak Ridge Cemetery including several former governors and legislators.  Labor leader John L. Lewis and John Kelly, the first settler in Springfield as well as world famous poet and singing troubadour Vachel Lindsay are also among the notables interred at Oak Ridge.  Please take the cemetery tour on this website to discover more of the history of Oak Ridge Cemetery.   As Executive Director, I would like to personally invite you to visit Oak Ridge Cemetery by making the city of Springfield, Illinois your next vacation destination.

 

Michael Lelys

Executive Director

Services that we provide

 

At need and preneed interment right sales.

Chapel Mausoleum Crypts for full casket entombments.

Columbarium Niches for the inurnment of cremated remains.

Monuments and markers. Flexible payment opportunities for the purchase of grave spaces and preneed interment fees.

Specially made silk floral arrangements for each season are available for purchase.

You may come in to the office to make your selection or we are happy to place the flowers for you.

Information regarding location of gravesites and burial records.

Oak Ridge Today

 

Oak Ridge Cemetery is the largest Municipal cemetery in Illinois with 365 acres and is the second most visited cemetery in the United States.  Oak Ridge Cemetery is a self-supporting city cemetery.  Sales are encouraged by maintaining reasonable prices and by providing good care and maintenance.

Oak Ridge Cemetery

1441 Monument
Springfield, IL 62702

217.789.2340
FAX 217.789.2338
email: Oakridge Cemetery

Office Hours

8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday

Gate Hours

7 a.m. - 5 p.m. - November through March
7 a.m. - 8 p.m. - During Daylight Savings Time