Did you know Lincoln Park used to be a cemetery? The story of the Couch Mausoleum?
- 123gochicago
- Oct 26
- 2 min read
Hidden near the Chicago History Museum stands the Couch Mausoleum — built in 1858 for hotel owner Ira Couch. It’s the only tomb left from Chicago’s original City Cemetery, a haunting reminder of the city’s early days and the thousands once buried beneath what is now one of Chicago’s most beloved parks.
Ira Couch (1806-1857) wasn’t just any Chicago resident. He arrived in the city in the 1830s, found success in real estate and hospitality (his family ran the famed Tremont House hotel), and died while vacationing in Cuba. In 1858, his family commissioned the mausoleum — designed by John M. Van Osdel, Chicago’s first professional architect.
What is now Lincoln Park was once the sprawling city cemetery of Chicago. From the 1840s through the 1860s, tens of thousands of people were buried on this land.
By the late 1860s the city had decided the burials too close to the lake threatened public health — and began moving graves to other cemeteries.
And yet… this solitary mausoleum remained.
Several theories explain why the Couch Mausoleum survived when virtually all other tombs were removed:
Cost & size: It weighed an estimated 50 tons, and moving it was simply too expensive.
Family resistance: Some say the Couch family resisted moving it; others suggest the park commissioners just gave up.
Historical reminder: By 1899, the park commission said it would remain “as an interesting reminder of the Park’s origin.”
Whatever the reason, the mausoleum stands today as the last above-ground marker of the old cemetery.
Some mysteries that are still unanswered:
Who is inside? Some sources say merely Ira Couch; others say his wife, parents, brothers, or even family friends — estimates range from 1 to 13 interred.
Was it affected by the Great Chicago Fire? The tomb is often cited as one of the oldest surviving structures in the fire zone.
What lies beneath the ground? Even today, some 6,000-plus bodies are believed to rest under the park’s lawn from the old cemetery days.
On a busy walk through Lincoln Park, this mausoleum stands out not for bells or big crowds, but for history quietly etched in stone. It’s a physical link to a very different Chicago — one where the edge of the lakefront featured graves rather than green lawns.
It invites us to reflect: cities evolve, spaces change, but traces of the past remain. The Couch Mausoleum keeps that connection visible.
Next time you’re in Lincoln Park, take a moment. Walk to the hill by the Chicago History Museum, look up at the name “COUCH,” and imagine the stories behind the stone: the businessman who built it, the grounds that were once resting places for thousands, and a park that grew over bodies and memory.It’s not just a curious monument — it’s a silent witness to Chicago’s transformation.
Couch Mausoleum
2045 N. Lincoln Park West
Chicago, IL 60614
Discover More Hidden Gems
For more hidden gems check out my book Chicago Beyond the Bean, available now. It’s filled with stories that take you beyond the typical tourist spots to explore the city’s most fascinating corners.
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