Historic PUBLIC TOURS at Crown Hill Cemetery 2022

Join us on a guided tour of historic Crown Hill Cemetery! We offer a variety of tour themes in 2022, from May through October. Most tours are held on Saturday nights and are scheduled to end around sunset from the top of Crown Hill, the highest hill in the county and the burial location of the famous Hoosier Poet, James Whitcomb Riley! From this amazing vantage point, one can see the 360-degree panoramic view of the entire city skyline! We also offer tours on Saturday mornings.

Led by knowledgeable tour guides, these tours offer an opportunity for you to enjoy Crown Hill at the most beautiful time of day and experience nature at its finest as you learn about the history and heritage of our country's 3rd largest cemetery! With over 220,000 stories to tell, we're just getting started! Please join us! 

2022 PUBLIC TOUR SCHEDULE:

• Sat., 5/7, 9:30 am - "TOMBSTONES & TREES"
• Mon., 5/30, Times TBA - "VETERANS" & other Historic Tours (FREE on Memorial Day - NO tickets required)
• Sat., 6/4, 7:30 pm - "RACING LEGENDS" - Driving Tour!*
• Sat., 6/11, 7:30 pm - "HERITAGE"*
• Sat., 6/18, 7:30 pm - "SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET, Part I"*
• Sat., 6/25, 9:30 am - "DRAMAS & DISASTERS"
• Sat., 7/9, 7:30 pm - "HERITAGE"*
• Sat., 7/16, 9:30 am - "CIVIL WAR PERSONALITIES"
• Sat., 7/23, 7:30 pm - "DILLINGER & EASTSIDE NOTABLES"*
• Sat., 7/30, 7:00 pm - "TREE TOUR"
• Sat., 8/6, 9:30 am - "TREASON IN INDIANAPOLIS"
• Sat., 8/13, 7:00 pm - "HERITAGE"*
• Sat., 8/20, 6:30 pm - "ANGELS OF CROWN HILL"*
• Sat., 8/27, 6:30 pm - "STORIES IN STONE" - Driving Tour!*
• Sat., 9/10, 6:00 pm - "HERITAGE"*
• Sat., 9/17, 6:00 pm - "HEROES"*
• Sat., 9/24, 6:00 pm - "INDY BICENTENNIAL HISTORY"*
• Sat., 10/1, 5:30 pm - "SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET, Part I"*
• Sat., 10/8, 5:30 pm - "HERITAGE"*
• Sat., 10/15, 9:30 am - "TOMBSTONES & FALL TREES"
• Sat., 10/22, 5:00 pm - "SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET, Part II" - Driving Tour!*

* Ends around Sunset from the top of the Crown!

For descriptions of our tours, please visit our   on our website!

PUBLIC TOUR FEES

• $10 per person (ages 5 and up), purchased online in advance
• Tickets are not required for children under age 5
• There will be NO tickets for sale at the gate from the tour guide
• Tours will be limited to 30 people
• The May 30th "Veterans" and other Historic Tours on Memorial Day are FREE and do not require tickets. Visit our website for more info.

After purchasing your ticket(s), you will receive an email confirmation with a PDF file of your ticket attached. Please print your ticket(s) and hand it/them to the tour guide when you arrive for your tour. You may also bring up the email on your phone and show the tour guide each PDF ticket (one ticket per person). Another option is to download the Eventbrite App and show the tour guide your tickets from the app. 

REFUNDS - Tickets are refundable up to seven days in advance of the tour. To request a refund, go to “Tickets” in your Eventbrite account, find your order, then select “Request a Refund.” We will respond within one week, and when issued, refunds can take up to five business days to show on your account. Refunds will not be issued in any other manner. 

WHEN & WHERE TO MEET - Meet the tour guide right inside the 34th St. Gothic stone gate entrance of Crown Hill Cemetery at 3400 Boulevard Place, Indianapolis, IN 46208 (Pictured above.) Park near the historic red brick Waiting Station building, located on the north side after you enter the gate. Please arrive 15 minutes early and give your ticket to the tour guide. When the tour is scheduled to begin, participants will follow the guide in their cars to where they will park and begin the tour. (Late Arrivals: you will miss the tour if you do not arrive early. There are no refunds for late arrivals.) Note: the May 30 Memorial Day Historic Tours will NOT start at the 34th St. gate. Participants will meet at the flagpole on the Crown Hill National Cemetery after the ceremony and in front of the Gothic Chapel for the others.

WHAT TO WEAR, WHAT TO BRING - For walking tours, wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. The dress code is casual. Bottled water and insect repellent are also recommended during the summer months.

WALKING TOURS - Walking tours cover about one mile at a comfortable pace for most people. The routes follow paved roads but we also venture into the grass onto uneven terrain. Tour participants may remain on the paved surface and catch up with the group down the road if they desire. Our walking tour routes may also include rolling hills and will usually include an optional walk to the top of the Crown, which is short but steep. (Not recommended for wheelchairs.) Tour participants are welcome to wait at the bottom of the Crown until the tour group returns. In 2022, all of our public tours are WALKING tours except for three DRIVING tours.

DRIVING TOURS - Driving tours will take participants to many locations in the cemetery which can't be seen on a walking tour. Participants drive their own cars from one location to the next, will get out and walk around a bit then drive to the next location. DRIVING tours are scheduled to be held on June 4, August 27, and October 22.

RAIN & CANCELLATIONS - We conduct tours in the light rain as long as it's not dangerous (a downpour and/or high winds and/or lightning). If we cancel a tour due to severe weather (or for any reason), you may use your ticket for a future public tour of your choice. If a tour is canceled we will announce it at least one hour (or more) in advance on our - @CrownHillCem. 

STROLLERS & WHEELCHAIRS - Little ones in strollers and participants using wheelchairs are welcome on all of our tours. (Note that we do not provide wheelchairs or strollers.) 

FAQs

Where can a find a description of your tours, and learn about the events you offer? Please visit our on our website for tour descriptions and our for events!

How late can I purchase a ticket before a tour begins? Online ticket sales end 10 MINUTES before tours are scheduled to begin. There are NO tickets available for sale at the gate from the tour guide. 

What if tickets are sold out? If there are not enough tickets available for you or your group, you must attend on another date.

What about parking? Parking is always plentiful and FREE! 

What can I bring on the tour? You're welcome to bring bottled water or any non-alcoholic drink. Snacks you can carry are fine too; be sure to take out all your trash. Cameras are welcome as well! The light of the "golden hour" at Crown Hill is amazing!

Can I bring my dog? Well-behaved and super friendly dogs on leashes are welcome. (Dogs must remain on a leash at all times and owners must pick up after them.)  

Do I need a flashlight? Our evening tours end around sunset before it's dark. Flashlights are optional but are typically not needed.  

Is the Crown the highest elevation in Indianapolis? The Crown is Marion County's highest natural HILL and is 842.21 ft. tall. The highest ELEVATION in Marion County, according to the Indiana Geological & Water Survey at Indiana University, is 925 ft. Because the Crown has such a dramatic elevation change and provides a stunning 360-degree panoramic view of the city, it certainly appears to be the highest elevation! 

Will I see any deer? Crown Hill has a resident herd of white-tailed deer who are frequently seen on our tours! 

Should I tip the tour guide? Tips are always appreciated but never expected.  

What's the refund policy? Tickets are refundable up to seven days in advance of the tour. To request a refund, go to “Tickets” in your Eventbrite account, find your order, then select “Request a Refund.” We will respond within one week, and when issued, refunds can take up to five business days to show on your account. Refunds will not be issued in any other manner. 

Can I use my tour ticket for another tour if I can't attend? Tour tickets can only be used on the tour for which you purchased them. If you're unable to attend, please see our refund policy. If we cancel a tour due to severe weather (or for any reason), you may use your ticket for a future public tour of your choice.  

CONTACT INFO

How can I contact the organizer with any questions? Email is always best! Contact us at [email protected] or call 317-920-4165 (Marianne). (Please note weekend emails and phone calls will not be returned until the following Monday.)

Host or Publisher Crown Hill Foundation