Spring Grove Cemetery Chapel
Also known as: See Also:Spring Grove Cemetery
Why it's listed
Spring Grove Cemetery Chapel is a limestone chapel at 4521 Spring Grove Avenue in Cincinnati, built between 1879 and 1881 and designed by architect Samuel Hannaford. It is laid out on a Latin cross plan, with gabled transepts and a gray slate roof. A Romanesque porte cochere on the southwestern facade has tooled sandstone arches and a Catherine wheel window with radial mullions. A large multiple-paned window imported from Munich, Germany, dominates the northeastern gable end. Sandstone trim appears on the gables, water table, window surrounds and buttresses, and small crosses top the gable ends. The window arrangement and the crypt bay on the northwestern facade give the building a medieval character. The chapel stands a short distance southwest of the cemetery's main entrance and gate house. It is described as totally intact and an excellent example of medieval Romanesque architecture, and it is still used as a chapel. It was listed as part of a group of works by Hannaford.
Significance in brief: The chapel is described as totally intact and an excellent example of medieval Romanesque architecture, here in a Carolingian Romanesque style. It is the work of Cincinnati architect Samuel Hannaford and was included as part of a thematic group of his buildings. It also sits within the nationally notable landscape of Spring Grove Cemetery.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80003086, listed March 3, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 4521 Spring Grove Ave., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | March 3, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003086 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1879-1881 |
| Architect / builder | Samuel Hannaford (architect); builder unknown |
| Architectural style | Carolingian Romanesque |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Interior and exterior condition listed as excellent; still used as a chapel. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.16443, -84.52352 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80003086.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7580535
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.