Lakewood Cemetery Memorial Chapel at Sunset

The Lakewood Cemetery Memorial Chapel in Minneapolis, completed in 1910 and inspired by Byzantine architecture, stands as one of Minnesota’s most significant funerary landmarks. Its interior mosaics—crafted with over ten million pieces of Venetian glass—were modeled after the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. The surrounding landscape, designed in the late 19th century, reflects the “garden cemetery” movement that emphasized serenity and park-like beauty. Today, Lakewood remains both an active cemetery and a public green space, connecting generations through its art, architecture, and memorial traditions.