Woodlawn Cemetery
Also known as: Historic Woodlawn Cemetery
Why it's listed
Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo, Ohio, is a rural-style burial ground laid out in the 1870s on the landscape lawn plan promoted by Adolph Strauch. Philadelphia landscape architect Edward Schwagerl drew its original lot and section plan, which is still followed. Winding roads cross gently rolling ground, and two connected ornamental lakes with small islands anchor the design. Trees of about 300 species and a bird population of some 200 species add to the park-like character. The grounds hold four contributing buildings, including a Romanesque limestone office of 1903 built around a bell tower and a chapel dedicated in 1883 that became a crematory chapel in 1923. A two-mile iron fence dates from 1915 and a concrete bridge from 1913. Forty-two private mausoleums, some neoclassical or Egyptian Revival with Tiffany glass and bronze doors, and distinctive monuments illustrate funerary design. The cemetery also reflects Toledo's growth, as the expanding city reached its edge by 1908.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the cemetery is an intact example of the rural cemetery movement and the landscape lawn plan, with a carefully planned park-like setting of lakes, winding roads and mature trees. It also contains notable funerary architecture, including neoclassical and Egyptian Revival mausoleums, and reflects the growth of Toledo. It is marked for architecture and landscape architecture under Criterion C.
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 98001396, listed November 19, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1502 W. Central Ave., Toledo |
|---|---|
| County | Lucas County |
| Listed | November 19, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98001396 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1876-1953 |
| Architect / builder | Edward O. Schwagerl (Schwagerl and Co. of Philadelphia, lawn plan); Stewert Iron Works Company (fence, 1915); Wyncoop and McGormley (bridge, 1913); Lloyd Brothers Monument Company |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Classical Revivals (Neo-classical), Late Gothic Revival, Exotic Revival (Egyptian Revival); Romanesque office building |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Landscape Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still an operating cemetery; the original chapel is no longer used for services or cremations, and the comfort station is largely unused. |
| Acreage | 159.1 |
| Coordinates | 41.68158, -83.57944 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 98001396.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14716957
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.