Oakland Cemetery

Oakland Cemetery was established in 1859. This sprawling graveyard is the famous final resting place of Chester Gould, the creator of the Dick Tracy comic strip. You will also find the grave of the notorious Johnny Stompanato Jr., bodyguard and enforcer for crime boss Mickey Cohen and the Cohen crime family.

Less commonly known is that Oakland Cemetery also serves as a gravesite for 10 children who mysteriously died within 2 weeks of each other in 1917. Tragically, another 38 children, mostly unidentified, are also buried here. These orphans of the Chicago Industrial Home for Children died between 1894 and 1926. 

A large stone etched with some of the children’s names marks the graves of these children. A cluster of small white crosses dot the ground as well. It is said that at dusk children’s voices can be heard echoing through the graveyard. A distance away, you will also encounter a pet cemetery at this site.