Crown Hill Cemetery originally came into being in 1863 after another nearby Greenlawn Cemetery became rundown and overcrowded during the Civil War. The previous burial grounds were running out of space and needed to relocate to somewhere better suited for the massive amounts of interments there. Military casualties were increasing, thanks to the fighting going on. Local businessmen formed a committee that was tasked with purchasing a new plot to house the bodies. A massive compliment led to its current moniker, as compared to all other similar landscapes in the city. As times went by, many famous and notable figures would come to be buried on the premises, highlighted by President Benjamin Harrison and one-time mobster John Dillinger, whose gravesite is among the most visited today. However, the cemetery would gain fame for another reason: hauntings. As with many locations seeing tragedy and violence, the grounds are considered to be one of the most paranormally active in America. Atop the largest hill sits a mass grave of hundreds of children from an orphanage, where sights and sounds of children running and playing are frequently reported. Once known as Public Enemy No. 1, John Dillinger’s resting place is often littered with baseball mitts as a local tradition. Nearly every area within Crown Hill has some type of haunted legend or story behind it. Having been there myself, I have caught ghostly images and strange feelings in the air. If you’re ever in Indianapolis and are into spooky places, I would highly recommend driving through the gates, even during the daylight hours, to try to catch a glimpse of something or someone mysterious lurking around.
Haunted Crown Hill Cemetery
