Mausoleums

The word derives from the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus (near modern-day Bodrum in Turkey), the grave of King Mausolus, the Persian satrap of Caria, whose large tomb was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Historically, mausolea were, and still may be, large and impressive constructions for a deceased leader or other person of importance. However, smaller mausolea soon became popular with the gentry and nobility in many countries. In the Roman Empire, these were often ranged in necropoles or along roadsides: the via Appia Antica retains the ruins of many private mausolea for miles outside Rome. However, when Christianity became dominant, mausoleums were out of use.

Later, mausolea became particularly popular in Europe and its colonies during the early modern and modern periods. A single mausoleum may be permanently sealed. A mausoleum encloses a burial chamber either wholly above ground or within a burial vault below the superstructure. This contains the body or bodies, probably within sarcophagi or interment niches. Modern mausolea may also act as columbaria (a type of mausoleum for cremated remains) with additional cinerary urn niches. Mausolea may be located in a cemetery, a churchyard or on private land.

In the United States, the term may be used for a burial vault below a larger facility, such as a church. The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, California, for example, has 6,000 sepulchral and cinerary urn spaces for interments in the lower level of the building. It is known as the “crypt mausoleum”. In Europe, these underground vaults are sometimes called crypts or catacombs. (source)

See our three Mausoleum offerings below:

Cathedral Mausoleum

Crypts – starting at $3,500.00.
Requires 10% deposit with five year interest free financing.

Cremation Niches – starting at $800.00
Requires $100.00 deposit with a 2-year interest free financing.

Our Professional counselors will help guide you through your questions and selection.

Garden Chapel Mausoleum

Crypts – starting at $4,300.00 for 2 crypts.
Requires 10% deposit with five-year interest-free financing.

Cremation Niches – starting at $1,000.00
Requires $100.00 deposit with a 2-year interest free financing.

Our Professional counselors will help guide you through your questions and selection.

Chapel Mausoleum

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Spring & Summer: 8:00 am - 7:00 pm
Fall & Winter: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Hours subject to change

OAK LAWN CEMETERY
7225 Eastern Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21224-1998

Telephone: (410) 285-4144
Fax: (410) 285-3677

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Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Closed Sunday