HISTORY IN BLOOM

Every year in late April, Spring Grove Cemetery presents a day of heritage and horticulture with their History In Bloom tour. Throughout the cemetery, reenactors are stationed at graves of prominent Cincinnatians who come to life to retell their story. Along the way, guests can see the budding trees surrounded by blossoming tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and more.

 

Visitors may choose to walk the path, but I prefer taking the horse-drawn carriage or Spring Grove's tram. The tour also includes a detailed map of all the reenactors, surrounding significant graves, and summaries of the historical figures we met on the tour. The best part, of course, is that History In Bloom is completely free and open to the public.

 

 

Agnes Lake Thatcher

World renown tight-rope walker, lion tamer, and equestrian. First female manager of a touring circus in 1871. Second husband was Wild Bill Hickcok.

Belinda Groshon

English actress known for her Lady Macbeth. She died suddenly while performing on stage in 1822.

Charles West

 

A flour mill operator, West spent 40 years in Cincinnati working to earn his fortune. In the 1880s, he donated $300,000 to help co-found the Cincinnati Art Museum. He died before the museum opened; little is mentioned of him at the Art Museum today.

Andrew Erkenbrecher

Owner of the St. Bernard Starch Works, Erkenbrecher invented the first shelf-stable starch. He used his wealth to found the Cincinnati Zoo, the second oldest zoo in America. The zoo first served as an aviary when many kinds of birds were imported to rid the city of the caterpillar plague.

Major General John Stites Gano

Civil War hero who helped plat Covington and was one of the areas earliest settlers.

Nicholas Longworth, Sr.

Cincinnati's first millionaire who owned Mt. Adams and whose house is the present-day Taft Museum of Art. He arrived in the city in 1804, a penniless man from New Jersey, and earned his wealth working as a lawyer, banker, and vineyard owner.

Mary Louise McLaughlin

Famous creator of ceramics who rivaled Maria Longworth's Rookwood Pottery. Her husband, James, was an architect for many of the buildings on 4th Street, as well as Shillito's, Mabley & Carew, Cincinnati Art Museum, Masonic Temple, and Downtown YMCA.

Amanda Wilson

World traveler, philanthropist, and documentarian of the Civil War. Contributed substantially to the original three issues of the McGuffey Readers in the 1850s.

Other Prominent Graves:

The Gambles, of Procter & Gamble.

William Nast, founder of the first German Methodist Church in America.

Salmon P. Chase, U.S. Secretary to President Lincoln and 6th Chief Justice of the U.S.
Chase bank is named in his honor.

General Rees E. Price, owner and developer of Price Hill

Dexter Mausoleum
Resting place for a family of whiskey distillers, the last of whom was buried in the 1940s.

Several graves were crafted as benches, which the public may sit on to enjoy the view.

Beer Baron Row, home to several notable brewers like Kauffman.

Sarcophagus of General Joe Hooker, who commanded the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War.
The term "hooker" was derived from his name,
due to a following of prostitutes who would join his brigade for parties at campsites.

Pogue, of the department store.

Hopple, of Hopple Street.