Circus train wreck cemetery. Currently only one circus and one carnival move their shows by railroad, the units of the Ringling Bros. Their remains are buried in Showmen's Rest, a quiet cemetery near Chicago. A fire broke out when the trains crashed into one another and six people were pronounced Apr 1, 2025 · The great circus train wreck of 1915. They were killed in the Hammond circus train wreck on June 22, 1918 at Ivanhoe, Indiana (about 5 miles east of Hammond, Indiana), when an empty Michigan Central Railroad troop train from Detroit, Michigan to Chicago, Illinois piloted by an engineer who had fallen asleep, Alonzo Sargent, plowed into their circus train. A horrific circus train wreck killed 23 people, two camels and one elephant and injured many other people and animals. 1WB 1903 Wallace Brothers Circus Train Wreck A Virtual Cemetery created by Deb Hayes-Wolfe 24 memorials Page of 2 Oct 16, 2024 · The wreck left behind more than its legacy. Oct 10, 2015 · A hundred years ago next month, she was orphaned after a horrendous train wreck outside of Columbus, and people followed the 2-year-old's recovery on the front page of the daily papers, smiling at Feb 19, 2022 · The Greatest Show on Earth’s journey across central Michigan would spell disaster for a major circus troupe after two of their trains collide. and was held there until a stock train had cleared the main line. Five years before the crash, in 1913, the Showmen's League of America had purchased a cemetery plot at Woodlawn Cemetery in Forest Park, IL specifically for circus performers. Jun 24, 2011 · Three of the train cars, with sleeping circus workers in them, were destroyed by fire. Kennedy Shows Memorial at Riverdale Cemetery. Eighty-six employees of the Peru, Ind. What happened? The circus company traveled in two trains with a total of 70 cars; the head train was stationary on the tracks when the second train crashed into it at 15 miles Jul 3, 2025 · In Cook County, Illinois, in Showmen’s Rest is a section of Woodlawn Cemetery where remains from a 1918 circus-train wreck were buried in a mass grave. — The coroners inquest in the matter of the wreck of the Wallace Brothers’ circus trains in the Grand Trunk railroad yards here on Aug. Many of the victims’ names were not known, so some of the markers say things like “unidentified male” or “Baldy” or “4 Horse Five elephant statues mark the boundaries of Showmen's Rest, a plot of 750 grave sites at Woodlawn Cemetery. The engineer of the troop train, Alonzo Sargent, had fallen asleep. The rumor, perpetuated by generations of Illinois schoolchildren, is that elephants killed in a train wreck couldn't be moved and were buried where they fell. Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus Train Crash and Showmen's Rest in Forest Park, Illinois. Putnam to solicit funds to defray expenses. source: Chicago Tribune/AP At the southern end of Woodlawn Cemetery just west of Chicago, a 750-plot area called Showmen’s Rest is set aside as a burial ground for circus folk. Woodlawn Cemetery in Forest Park is just south of Jewish Waldheim. In the spirit of February and love-themed episodes, they explore the profound love that emerged amidst the wreckage. Nov 14, 2019 · In Cook County, Illinois, in Showmen’s Rest is a section of Woodlawn Cemetery where remains from a 1918 circus-train wreck were buried in a mass grave. At a meeting held Thursday evening, a committee appointed Rev. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and the James E. The Hammond circus train wreck occurred on June 22, 1918, and was one of the worst train wrecks in U. Thank you to Kenneth H. ” in 2 reviews Maude the Circus Elephant Burial Site located at the Grand Trunk Railroad Yards at the site of the Wallace Brothers Shows Circus Train Accident. ” Most of its victims are buried here, in this cemetery. Kennedy was hit head on by the engine of a Central of Georgia passenger train six and ½ miles east of Columbus, Georgia. Circus Train Wreck Photographs (SMC 124) Historical Note The train wreck occurred on November 22, 1915 when the circus/carnival train owned by Con T. How could such a terrible disaster have occurred during the Golden Age of railroads? The Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus was the third-largest in the U. Main Circus train wreck occurred Central Pennsylvania on Memorial Day, May 30, 1893. I didn't know circus performers were buried there and it was neat to stumble upon it, the headstones and statuary of the circus burial area are worth the trip even if you missed the memorial. Apr 22, 2023 · Elephant trainers Ted Svertesky, who perished in a circus train wreck, and John Carroll, who was crushed by one of his animals, both have graves decorated with pachyderms. Kennedy Traveling Circus had ended after a profitable week of performances in Sep 14, 2014 · On a more somber note, but drivable to see around the south side, there's a cemetery that contains circus performers who were killed in a train wreck. It's the Memorial to Circus Train Wreck Dead. 24, the Riverdale-Porterdale Cemetery Foundation is planning to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the wreck with a special wreath laying. Showmen’s Rest is still used today to inter deceased circus members. Feb 16, 2016 · Train wreck at Hammond Circus Train Wreck, at Hammond, Indiana June 22, 1918 At 4:00 am, he missed at least two automatic signals and warnings posted by a brakeman of the 26-car circus train, which had made an emergency stop to check a hot box on one of the flatcars. Eighty-six people were reported to have died and another 127 were injured when a locomotive engineer fell asleep and ran his troop train into the rear of a circus train near Hammond, Indiana. As the Hagenbeck Wallace circus train approached Hammond, it pulled onto a sidetrack in order to cool an overheated wheel bearing box. Feb 3, 2026 · The last fatal circus train wreck occurred in 1994 near Lakeland, Florida. While most of the performers chose epitaphs that grandly immortalized their talents, circus manager and cemetery founder D. 86 people were reported to have May 10, 2020 · Unfortunately, over 50 passengers were killed when their train collided with a steel passenger train, which was significantly stronger than the carnival train. The identity of many of the victims was unknown, as they were Jul 19, 2018 · Mourners gather at the mass burial of Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus train crash victims, 1918. I talk about the history behind the train accident which happened only months after Jun 17, 2018 · In the days after the wreck circus folk, friends and relatives grappled with the nearly unbearable task of identifying the corpses, most “charred and mangled beyond recognition. ” Less than one week later, the majority of the dead, many of whom remained unidentified, were interred in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Chicago suburb of Forest Park. Eighty-six performers, circus hands and roustabouts were killed as a result of the crash and fire. on June 22, 1918. ) The grand spectacle of the Con T. The circus train held 400 performers and roustabouts of the Hagenbeck–Wallace Circus. A large tombstone shaped like a rectangular tent memorializes people killed in a horrible circus train wreck 6. Visit reports, news, maps, directions and info on Memorial to Circus Train Wreck Dead in Forest Park, Illinois. Feb 4, 2017 · Regarding Circus Train Wreck Memorial. Between 60 and 110 employees were killed when The legendary Walter L. August 7, to be exact. 7, was concluded Thursday. Miller’s grave says simply: “Dun Rovin. On November 22, 1915, tragedy struck 6. We are visiting Woodlawn Cemetery today in Forest Park, Illinois just outside Chicago to discuss the deadly Mar 27, 2020 · The Hagenbeck and Wallace train wreck of 1918, 86 souls were lost that day. They were killed in the Hammond circus train wreck on June 22, 1918, at Ivanhoe, Indiana, (about 51⁄2 miles east of Hammond, Indiana), when an empty Michigan Central Railroad troop train from Detroit, Michigan, to Chicago, Illinois, plowed into their circus train. This 22-car train consisted mostly of flat cars carrying wagons, but at the rear were two Pullmans in which workers were sleeping, followed by a wooden caboose. The map location is approximate. Feb 9, 2021 · The elephants mark the spot of Showman’s Rest, the final resting place for more than 50 circus performers from the Hagenbeck-Wallace circus train, who died in a crash and subsequent fire in Hammond, Ind. Jun 12, 2018 · A Century Later, a Train Wreck Brings a Fraternal Order Together Dozens of circus performers and workers were killed in the 1918 crash and laid to rest at Chicago’s Woodlawn Cemetery Jul 31, 2018 · It was 115 years ago this month in the Shiawassee County town of Durand. m. ” This is because of a tragic train wreck that occurred in the area while the circus was traveling. Forest Park, the site of Showmen’s Rest, is a town of cemeteries, marking the historical fringe of metropolitan Chicago. Mar 21, 2024 · In the early morning hours of May 30, 1893, Engineer “Red” Cresswell attempted to bring Walter L. May 1, 2014 · The story of a circus train accident has become the stuff of legend in the Pennsylvania town of Tyrone, but some researchers are hunting for more tangible traces of that pileup in the form of a The circus train held 400 performers and roustabouts of the Hagenbeck–Wallace Circus. R. The Hammond Circus Train Wreck kills 86 and injures 127 near Hammond, Indiana. The Showmen’s League of America had just recently purchased a section of Woodlawn Cemetery, intending it to be a peaceful resting place for circus workers. A train wreck in 1915 claimed the lives Jan 19, 2020 · Post-Tribune Documentary tells tale of 1918 circus train tragedy on Indiana lakeshore The funeral for the 86 people who were killed in the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus train wreck near Hammond, Ind. Some people say the ghosts of the circus company haunt the old fairgrounds across the street from their final resting place in Riverdale Cemetery. Many others injured. T. The Public Service for Riverdale has one name and 3 unks listed for from the wreck. F WoodlawnCemetery is the final resting place of 53 circus performers who were killed in a train crash near Ivanhoe, Indiana on June 22, 1918. Woodlawn Cemetery Circus Train Tragedy On June 22, 1918, at approximately 4 am in the morning, veteran train driver Alonzo Sargent fell asleep at the helm of his 21-car locomotive and crashed into the temporarily-stopped Hagenbeck-Wallace circus train carrying 400 circus performers. are buried at Showman's Rest in Woodlawn Cemetery in Forest Park, Ill Jun 17, 2018 · For more than 100 years, the remains of 56 performers and roustabouts of the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus lay at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Forest Park. Main circus train carrying dozens of animals and performers ran off the tracks in an epic crash in central Pennsylvania. Apr 14, 2010 · Elephant trainers Ted Svertesky, who perished in a circus train wreck, and John Carroll, who was crushed by one of his animals, both have graves decorated with pachyderms. Jan 13, 2016 · The accident contributed to changes in regulations mandating sleep for train crews. May 2, 2011 · Lytle is a librarian at the Hammond Public Library. Showmen's Rest (Part I) Showmen's Rest: (Part II) Woodlawn Sign References: Austin, Beth: "The Day The Show Didn't Go On", Chicago Magazine May 1989 Barnum, Art: "Statues mourn circus train tragedy", Chicago Tribune Keefe, William: "Circus We went looking for the Con T. No one Oct 14, 2024 · The Circus Tent Grave Marker: Mass Grave of Circus Train Wreck Victims. A large tombstone shaped like a rectangular tent memorializes people killed in a horrible circus train wreck near Columbus in 1915. Jun 22, 2012 · Early morning, June 22, 1918, the 26-car Hagenbeck-Wallace circus train on the outskirts of Hammond, IN, was struck by a troop train, killing 86 circus employees and performers. 56 are buried at Showmen's Rest, Woodlawn Cemetery, Forest Park, Illinois. S. Buried within are clowns, trapeze artists, strongmen, bareback riders, acrobats, roustabouts, and, of course, the victims of one of the most tragic circus disasters in history. ” Local folklore adds a haunting dimension to the tragedy, with tales of a small boy seen lurking around the monument, asking for a nickel to attend the circus. Sep 27, 2024 · Discover the haunting history of Showmen's Rest in Forest Park, IL, where circus performers tragically lost in the 1918 train wreck are laid to rest. Aug 2, 2016 · On November 22nd 1915, the Col. A circus tent memorial headstone was later erected Riverdale Cemetery commemorating the tragedy. "On the 22nd of June, 1918, the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus was on its way to its next scheduled performance in Hammond, Indiana" As always, THANK YOU to all Sep 21, 2021 · Circus performers killed in Hammond train crash remembered 100 years later For more than 100 years, the remains of 56 performers and roustabouts of the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus lay at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Forest Park. Aug 7, 2024 · The first section of the circus train pulled into the Durand yard around 3:45 a. Nov 1, 2019 · The Hagenback-Wallace Circus would only miss two shows as a result of the crash, as competing circuses lent them workers until others could be hired. H. Who lost their lives in the Railroad Wreck of the Great Wallace Shows. John McLean and Wm. Topics. The testimony throughout the inquest showed that the first circus train was standing on the main line here and had put out the necessary signals to stop the second section. The great circus train wreck of 1918 stands as one of the most tragic events in American circus history. Most of the eighty-six who were killed in the train wreck perished in the first thirty-five seconds after Many members of the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus troupe perished in a train wreck that occurred on June 22, 1918. It was mid-afternoon on a straight stretch of track when the Con. Engraved on the back of the circus tent –shaped, granite marker is a I went to the Woodlawn cemetery to check out Showmens Rest which was set up by The Showmen's League of America. Feb 11, 2025 · A section in the cemetery mostly for circus performers, including victims of the famous 1918 Hammond Circus train wreck. After a mass service at the Columbus First Baptist Church, there was a large funeral procession to Riverdale Cemetery, where the carnival show members were laid to rest. It memorializes the circus employees killed in a horrible circus train wreck 6. Jul 29, 2014 · Showmen’s Rest is a section of Woodlawn Cemetery where remains from a 1918 circus-train wreck were buried in a mass grave. Main’s circus train—full of exotic animals, expert performers, employees, equipment, and May 1, 2014 · On May 30, 1893, around 5:30 a. Woodlawn is a modern cemetery, best known for "Showmen's Rest" and a 1918 train crash. ” in 3 reviews “ It was from here that Showmen's Rest, a 750-plot section within Forest Park's Woodlawn Cemetery, was born. , the Walter L. He is 63, and last year he wrote “The Great Circus Train Wreck of 1918. There could be more. The statues actually mark the site of a mass grave of 56 (or perhaps 61) Hagenbeck-Wallace circus employees who were killed on Aug 12, 2016 · News Circus graveyard: Showmen’s Rest and the Hagenbeck-Wallace tragedy of 1918 The Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus train wreck killed at least 86 and injured 127 on June 22, 1918, near Hammond. Here are all the grim details. A train carrying performers and workers from the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus was stopped on the tracks for repairs when an empty troop train, operated by On November 22, 1915, the Con T. Kennedy Shows and a Central of Georgia passenger train. Jan 23, 2015 · A large tombstone shaped like a rectangular tent memorializes people killed in a horrible circus train wreck 6. Showmen's Rest is a section of Woodlawn Cemetery that contains the remains from a 1918 circus-train wreck in a mass grave. Many so badly burnt that the headstones only shows Unknown Male and the number. Some sources say up to 121 were hurt. This incident would also plague the Grand Trunk May 10, 2022 · New to the tour this year is Showmen’s Rest, sometimes referred to as “Chicago’s Clown Cemetery,” where 56 of the 86 victims of the 1918 Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus train wreck lie buried in Jun 19, 2018 · In this June 1918 photo, many of the deceased who were killed in the Hagenbeck-Wallace circus train wreck near Hammond, Ind. history. Kennedy Show circus train collided with a Central Georgia passenger train. Memorial is shaped like a large circus tent (Big Top). Jan 12, 2016 · In 1918, a train wreck killed over 50 circus performers. The circus train wreck killed 89 performers and roustabouts, and injured over 150 more. Showmen's Rest founding and the Hammond circus train wreck of 1918 The Showmen's League of America, formed in 1913 with Buffalo Bill Cody as its first president, had recently selected and purchased the burial ground for its members in Woodlawn Cemetery, at the intersection of Cermak Road and Des Plaines Avenue in Forest Park, Illinois. Many of the performers and animals died in the accident. THIS STORY: The Hammond Circus Train Wreck occurred on June 22, 1918, during the last months of World War I and was one of the worst train wrecks in US history. Jun 22, 2018 · The Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus suffered one of the worst train wrecks in history in 1918, with more than 100 people injured and 86 killed. Kennedy Carnival train ran head-on into a passenger train that shouldn't have been there. The show was headed to Phenix City and the crash occurred near Bull Creek. Memorial to Circus Train Wreck Dead Forest Park, Illinois Five elephant statues mark the boundaries of Showmen's Rest, a plot of 750 grave sites at Woodlawn Cemetery. Researchers are hunting . (Photo by Bob Boetticher) Foot marker from the Kennedy Circus monument. That is a big cemetery! We drove around and finally spotted the marble big top. This Memorial was placed in memory of the employees that died when the train wreck 11/22/1915. Jun 11, 2025 · Come with me to visit the final resting place of the victims of the 1918 Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus train wreck. On June 22 of that year, a catastrophic collision between two trains resulted in the deaths of at least 85 people, many of whom were performers, crew members, and circus fans traveling with the Ringling Brothers Circus. Fifty-six of the victims were buried at Woodlawn Cemetery at Showmen’s Rest. All who perished were laid to rest at Woodlawn Cemetery which is located in Forest For those who don’t know - many of these grave markers bear the date “June 22, 1918. Thomas Jr. The haunting accident happened just outside Hammond, Indiana. However, this plot, named Showmen’s Rest, soon became the site of a mass grave for many of the circus performers who perished in the wreck. (Photo by Kenneth H. This video guides you through what happened and connects you with the tragic derailment Jun 18, 2018 · For more than 100 years, the remains of 56 performers and roustabouts of the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus lay at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Forest Park. 5 miles east of Columbus on November 22, 1915. Located in Riverdale Cemetery in Columbus, Georgia, this big-top shaped granite monument marks the graves of victims of an infamous 1915 Circus Train disaster. The statues actually mark the site of a mass grave of 56 (or perhaps Showmen's Rest is the site of a mass burial of clowns and other circus performers after a train wreck killed 86 members of the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus in 1918. Between 60 and 110 employees were killed when another train conductor fell asleep, causing his train to strike the circus train. Dunwoody Erected by The Circus Historical Society. 5 miles east of Columbus when the Con. , a Midwestern version of the Barnum & Baily Greatest Show. Jun 18, 2013 · Grave of elephant trainer Ted Svertesky, killed in a 1994 circus train wreck Grave of a clown? Grave of Zefta Loyal: Queen of the Bareback Riders The other side of Loyal’s tombstone The Great Jun 20, 2013 · Contrarily, the statues actually outline the site of the mass grave containing the mortal remains of the unfortunate Hagenbeck-Wallace circus employees killed on the circus train in the early days of World War I. A flagman was immediately sent out with a lantern to protect the train from the rear. Showmen's Rest in Forest Park, Illinois, is a 750-plot section of Woodlawn Cemetery mostly for circus performers owned by the Showmen's League of America. Startes Carnival. Showmen's Rest (Part I) Showmen's Rest: (Part II) Woodlawn Sign References: Austin, Beth: "The Day The Show Didn't Go On", Chicago Magazine May 1989 Barnum, Art: "Statues mourn circus train tragedy", Chicago Tribune Keefe, William: "Circus Sep 5, 2010 · Mass Grave of Circus Train Wreck Victims The circus train wreck memorial marker is visible from the road within the cemetery, on the 4th Street side, about halfway into the cemetery. Jun 20, 2018 · The crash occurred 30 miles away, in northwest Indiana. Aug 6, 2020 · Durand, Michigan: Circus Train Wreck Memorial An obelisk in Lovejoy Cemetery memorializes the humans killed when two circus trains collided in 1903. Kennedy Circus train was about to pull into Columbus, GA when a passenger train moved onto the track against orders. -based Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus perished. Description Showmen's Rest Monument: Woodlawn Cemetery, Forest Park IL, 5 elephants mark boundries Showman's Rest, 60 graves of Hagenbeck-Wallace circus employees killed in train wreck near Hammond IN, 6/22/1918 Aug 25, 2009 · In addition, a monument resembling a circus tent was placed by the Kennedy Circus in Section 1 to memorialize those killed in a 1915 accident involving a circus train from the Con T. “ The tribute is tastefully done and very touching to visit, in honor of these poor folks who lost their lives doing what they loved. If im not mistaken, I think some of the elephants are actually buried here as well Jan 12, 2021 · On August 6, 1903, a circus train wreck in Durand killed 26 people (some sources say 22, others 23), an Arabian horse, three camels, an elephant, and a Great Dane… and injured many others. May 7, 2024 · This group of 56 grave markers are dedicated to unnamed, unclaimed and unrecognizable men and women that perished in this train wreck and subsequent fire This grave marker is provided by the Circus Historical Society and in memory of circus historian Thomas J. They are buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Forest Park. Side view of circus tent commemorative monument at Riverdale Cemetery, Columbus, Georgia. The Hammond Circus Train Wreck occurred in the early hours of June 22, 1918, near Hammond, Indiana, and remains one of the deadliest train disasters in U. Marie Pomazal, an administrator at the cemetery, said the unique memorial draws tourists every year. for his historical knowledge surrounding the train accident and Teddy Price, funeral director, for his invaluable assistance. The monument to the unknown dead victims of the Wallace Brothers circus train wreck will be unveiled in Lovejoy Cemetery on the afternoon of Decoration Day. Aug 6, 2013 · A clown Sunday pauses after placing flowers at Showmen’s Rest monument during a memorial ceremony at Woodlawn Cemetery in Forest Park for circus artists who died in a 1918 train accident. In the early morning hours of June 22, 1918, the engineer of a 20-car Michigan Central train plowed into the caboose and four rear sleeping cars of the circus train just outside of Hammond, Indiana, near the Indiana-Illinois state line. There will be entertainment and a lunch. , on June 22, 1918. Jan 10, 2022 · The Legends Of Showmen’s Rest In Illinois May Send Chills Down Your Spine Showmen’s Rest in Woodlawn Cemetery, Illinois, is a unique and allegedly haunted graveyard for circus performers who died in a tragic 1918 train accident. Nov 15, 2024 · America’s Showmen’s Rests (cemeteries dedicated to circus and carnival performers) honor the legacy of entertainers with elephant statues, circus-themed gravestones, and enduring care from the May 28, 2024 · In 1918, the Hammond Circus Train Wreck became one of the deadliest train accidents in United States history. May 25, 2015 · On Oct. Wikimedia Commons The Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus wasn’t the Feb 15, 2021 · An impressive obelisk memorial stands near the entrance of the cemetery and reads: "In memory of the Unknown Dead. Apr 22, 2003 · The train wreck graves make up about half the Showmen's Rest plot, and over 40 of the markers are marked "unknown" - because of the fire and the transient nature of circus performers, so many of the victims are unidentified. Nov 18, 2021 · The close-knit circus community rallied around them and provided equipment and acts for the remaining dates. The only name I found was William Batchelor. What happened? The circus company traveled in two trains with a total of 70 cars; the head train was stationary on the tracks when the second train crashed into it at Aug 29, 2025 · The story of the 1903 Wallace Brothers circus train wreck in Durand, Michigan, the unknown victims buried at Lovejoy Cemetery, and why forgotten tragedies matter. Feb 8, 2024 · Listen in as they spotlight the Hagenbeck-Wallace circus train wreck of 1918 – a tragic event that claimed over 80 lives and left many injured. Jun 17, 2018 · Members of the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus were killed in a fiery crash in Hammond, Ind. Jan 25, 2024 · The circus train was stopped on the tracks for repairs. Didn't go but I went to this cemetery some years ago with a friend whose father is buried there. ilve qsyq fcmjw dvchh pksrdl pdlwgqu kcgc hgrv qbfby jwsdp