Bohemian National Cemetery

Bohemian National Cemetery occupies about 126 acres on Chicago's northwest side, entered through a medieval-revival limestone gatehouse on Pulaski Road. It was laid out in three stages: a grid plan by John V. Benes in 1878, a curving eastern and southern extension by August Petrtyl in 1903, and a northern section by Jens Jensen in 1906. The grounds hold 64 resources, including a gatehouse, administration building, domed Renaissance Revival crematorium and columbarium, a 1950 water tower group, and 48 private family mausoleums in varied revival styles. Six major public monuments mark the community's values, among them the Klacel bust, a Civil War soldier, the Mother Monument by Albin Polasek, and memorials to Spanish War, Odd Fellows and World War veterans. The cemetery was listed as the principal burial ground and gathering place of Chicago's Czech-American community, reflecting its ethnic heritage, patriotism, fraternal life and freethought traditions.