"There Is No More Peaceful Place In Chicago"

The Tribune Magazine had an article last Sunday about the restored chapel at Graceland Cemetery (4001 N Clark), recently returned to its 1888 appearance after two years of construction. It was designed by Holabird & Roche, and "updated" a few times over the next century. When the original hand drawings were discovered, it was gutted and restored to its original plans. Although the story said it's open to the public, the doors were locked when we went over earlier this week, so no photos of the new/old interior. Maybe later.

The story also talks about the serene, weeping-willow-surrounded island where Daniel Burnham and his family are buried, literally just feet away from the intersection of Magnolia and Montrose.  In words not normally used to describe Uptown, particularly that intersection, the article says of it, "There is no more peaceful place in Chicago, if not the planet, than this small island."  The man who oversaw the chapel restoration (and the recent topping of the cemetery fence) says, "Of all the burial places in the world, this might be the one, the best. It is at once subtle and magnificent."

If you'd like to read the article, it's here.  It's behind a paywall, so registration is necessary.  If you'd like to read it without going through the paywall, try Googling "rick kogan graceland" and see if it comes up.

If you haven't seen Graceland, we urge you to take a tour, whether formally or informally (self-guided maps are available inside the office at the front gate).  You may even see the fabled Coyotes of Graceland.  But be sure to be out by 4pm -- that's when the gates close.