Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Chapel
Why it's listed
Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Chapel stands on the west side of Marion Cemetery in Marion, Ohio, facing the main driveway. After the Civil War, local residents formed a monumental association to honor county veterans, and funding finally came through a county tax. W. C. Whitehead of Indianapolis designed the chapel, which was built from 1887 and dedicated on August 22, 1888, at a cost of $14,939.75. Its limestone walls, sandstone bands, slate roof and three-story tower carry military motifs, including a soldier figure, carved rifles, cannons and wreathed urns. Inside, Italian marble tablets list more than 2,800 Marion County men who served in the Revolution, the War of 1812 and the Civil War. Cleveland sculptor Joseph Carabelli produced the carved work. The chapel was listed for its High Victorian Gothic Revival design, its miniature scale and the quality of its sculpture, and it remains in regular use for ceremonies and funerals.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the chapel is a good and unusually miniature example of High Victorian Gothic Revival architecture. It also cites the artistic distinction of its sculpture, which is tied to the career of sculptor Joseph Carabelli.
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 95000169, listed March 9, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | OH 423, E side, within Marion Cemetery, Marion |
|---|---|
| County | Marion County |
| Listed | March 9, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000169 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1887-1888 |
| Architect / builder | W. C. Whitehead, Architect (Indianapolis); Joseph Carabelli, Sculpter (Cleveland) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Gothic (High Victorian Gothic Revival) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Art |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The chapel has been in continuous use since 1888, hosting annual Memorial Day services and funeral services throughout the year. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.57670, -83.12461 (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 95000169.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138569776
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.