Before I arrived in Cleveland, I had marked Lake View Cemetery as one of the places I wanted to visit. I wondered why a cemetery made the "must see" list.
The cemetery is huge. Driving around, there's so much to look at. I didn't even see the dam until I had been there for an hour. While I was looking for the Haserot Angel, I came across the James A. Garfield Memorial. I'll review that separately but wanted to point out that there are maps inside the memorial for purchase. I didn't buy one and consequently, ended up wandering around aimlessly on the grounds by car and foot. If I could do one thing over, it would be to buy the $5 map that has descriptions of points of interest and a more detailed map.
The stone work is beautiful and timeless! The crypts range in sizes but my favorites were the smaller ones in shady areas. It took awhile to find the Haserot Angel but it was a powerful experience. The pose of the statue imparts different feelings for each person. Majestic. Protective. Regal. Eerie. Creepy. All those things and more!
When I visited, there were no blooms on the trees but I think visiting any time of year would have a different feel. I wish it were foggy because that would have added to the overall vibe. I tried to get my friend (who I'm visiting) to take me there at night but alas, she's kinda scared. In here defense, we were there on Friday the 13th, so I kinda get that.
Although I don't have any plans to return to Cleveland soon, I would come back here for every visit. The grounds are so expansive - there's plenty to see!