Lancaster Crematorium: The Country’s First Public Crematorium

Tucked away behind a curtain of trees in Lancaster’s Greenwood Cemetery sits one of the most unusual and groundbreaking structures in American funerary history: the first public crematorium in the United States. Built in 1884 by the Lancaster Cremation and Funeral Reform Society, this Late Gothic Revival structure once stood at the center of a heated national debate over life, death, and public health.

The red-brick building, designed by Philip Dinkelberg, features cathedral-like windows, a gabled roof, and the solemn word “Crematorium” etched in marble across the front lintel. A stone above the central window reads “1884.” Though boarded and broken today, its tall, arched windows once filled the vaulted interior with natural light. A faint blue paint still clings to the ceiling brackets—just visible if you peer through the broken boards at sunset.

Inspired by the private LeMoyne Crematory in Washington, PA, the Lancaster facility was the first of its kind open to the general public. A progressive committee of doctors, educators, and publishers—including local luminaries like J.P. McCaskey and A.J. Steinman—championed cremation as a sanitary solution in an era of deadly diseases like yellow fever. They believed overcrowded cemeteries were breeding grounds for contagion and that cremation would curb the spread of illness.

Opposition was fierce. Critics associated cremation with paganism and rallied against the project from the pulpit and the press. Protesters even threatened to destroy the building. Undeterred, the Reform Society pressed on, emphasizing transparency by publishing plans, diagrams, and testimonials from scientists and clergymen in both the local papers and national journals.

On November 25, 1884, the Lancaster Crematorium performed its first cremation. Christiana Beseler of New Jersey, whose body had been held for months in anticipation of the facility’s completion, was reduced to ashes in just under an hour. The process, designed by Dr. Miles L. Davis, used an ingenious smokeless fuel system that fully oxidized remains without producing odor, flame, or smoke. As Rev. Dr. Beecher would later say, “All that belonged to the air we set free to fly away on invisible wings in the sunshine.”

The facility conducted dozens of cremations over the next two decades, helping to normalize what had once been considered a radical practice. But following the deaths of key trustees in 1904, the crematorium closed, and its society disbanded. Decades of abandonment followed, during which the site served as little more than a storage shed and faded into obscurity.

That changed in the early 1980s when Greenwood Cemetery president Terry Shamberger secured funding and national recognition for the site. In 1983, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and cremations resumed briefly in the 1980s using a modern furnace before the facility closed for good.

Today, the building sits in silence—its windows boarded, its history largely unmarked, save for the original marble inscription. But its impact endures. More than half of Americans now choose cremation. Though weathered and forgotten, this curious red-brick building in Lancaster quietly changed the way we think about death.

Did You Know?

🕯️ Lancaster’s crematorium was so innovative that it didn’t need a chimney. A system of flues channeled gases over 100 feet for complete oxidation—producing no smoke, no smell, and no flames.
🪦 In its early years, the building’s interior featured urns, artwork, and even lounges to accommodate visitors.
📜 In 1886, the cremation process was described not as burning but as “gently melting away,” in a publication detailing every technical and ceremonial element.

Planning Your Visit

Greenwood Cemetery, located at 719 Highland Ave, Lancaster, PA 17603, is open daily from dawn to dusk. The crematorium is located in the northeastern section, hidden behind a row of trees.

.

While it is not open to the public, respectful visitors are welcome to admire the historic exterior. There are currently no markers or interpretive signs at the site, so you may need to bring a little curiosity—and a sense of reverence for this forgotten landmark that forever changed American burial traditions.

Learn More

📖 Learn about more unique places like this when you step off the beaten path with Uncharted Lancaster: Field Guide to the Strange, Storied, and Hidden Places of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania by Adam Zurn. This one-of-a-kind 239-page guidebook uncovers 56 fascinating sites, from the county’s very own fountain of youth to the oldest continuously operating short-line railroad in the western hemisphere.

Packed with history, local stories, and GPS locations, this book is your ticket to exploring the mysterious corners of Lancaster like never before. Whether you’re a lifelong local, a history buff, or just looking for a unique adventure, this field guide will spark your curiosity and send you exploring. Start your adventure here.

Interested in reading about Lancaster’s darker, spookier side?

Check out my first full-length book, Uncharted Lancaster’s Ghosts, Monsters, and Tales of Adventure. This 283-page book is packed with 64 unforgettable stories, all set right here in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

---

Adventure Awaits!

Never miss a new article or event announcement by signing up for email updates below. Be sure to follow Uncharted Lancaster on Facebook or Instagram for exclusive content.

---

Resources

• Lancaster Crematorium
• The First-Crematoria in America
• Lancaster New Era Sat, Mar 12, 1887 ·Page 4
• All Is Perfect Quiet