Chicago, Illinois

Egyptian Revival ~ Pyramids:  In Chicago's famous "rural cemetery" is one of the classic examples of the Egyptian Revival style, complete with lotus and protective asp and sphinx. Inside are the remains of Peter Schoenhofen and his family. May their spirits live as long as the ancient Pharaohs. Where did the wealth to build the mausoleum come from? His brewery, which slaked the thirst of Chicagoans in the late 1800s. Graceland Cemetery. [2015]

Havana, Cuba

Egyptian Revival ~ Pyramids:  Just like the ones at Giza, but smaller. If you are buried in a pyramid, perhaps your soul is automatically elevated to the status of God. Nevertheless, the decision to be buried in a pagan-style tomb must have been controversial. Erected 1920. Cemeterio de Cristóbal Colón. [2014]

Miami, Florida

Egyptian Revival ~ Pyramids:  Napoleon, probably imagining himself as Pharaoh, invaded Egypt in 1798. As a result, the aesthetic of ancient Egypt re-entered the Europeanized world. The Egyptian Revival hit architecture first, then it hit the cemeteries. It continues to this day. If a pyramid was fit for a pharaoh, then it would be fit for Mary Hecht, department store heiress who died in 1982. Woodlawn Park Cemetery. [2014]