Entry No. 7 — the Milwaukee file — filed under: cemetery
Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum (Newhall House Monument)
Established in 1850 across 200 wooded acres, this historic Victorian rural cemetery houses the mass grave and 26-foot stone monument dedicated to 64 victims of the tragic 1883 Newhall House Hotel fire.
The story
On January 10, 1883, downtown Milwaukee's six-story Newhall House Hotel went up in flames, resulting in one of the deadliest hotel fires in early American history. When the ashes cleared, 64 of the victims were either burned beyond recognition or had no family to claim them. City officials quietly interred them together in Section 9 of Forest Home Cemetery, erecting a 26-foot stone shaft crowned with sculpted flames to mark the collective grave.
Established in 1850 across 200 wooded acres in Lincoln Village, Forest Home was built following the 19th-century 'rural cemetery' movement—designed as much for solemn Sunday promenades as for eternal rest. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, the arboretum grounds hold a striking contrast: just a short walk from the understated Newhall disaster marker lie the lavish, looming mausoleums of Milwaukee’s legendary beer barons, including the dynasties behind Pabst, Schlitz, and Blatz.
You come here to trace the fault lines of old Milwaukee wealth and industrial-era tragedy on the exact same footpaths. The mass grave doesn't scream for attention, but standing beneath the stone flames in Section 9 gives you a clear window into how quickly the Gilded Age could turn pitch-black.
What it's like
When you pull through the main gates on Forest Home Avenue, stop immediately at the office near the entry to grab a paper map—without it, navigating 200 canopy-draped acres to find a specific grave is an exercise in futility. The grounds are intensely quiet, shaded by hundreds of mature trees, and crisscrossed by narrow paved roads. Locate Section 9 for the flame-topped Newhall House monument, then follow the winding drives toward the beer barons' monumental crypts. Confirm current gate hours before driving out, as access times shift seasonally.
The move: Pick up a cemetery map at the main office and walk to Section 9 to examine the flame-topped stone monument before visiting the ornate mausoleums of Milwaukee's historic beer barons.
- 📍 Lincoln Village
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2405 W Forest Home Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53215
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Milwaukee Fire Department Museum & Historical Society — A mile south, this preserved 1927 firehouse provides tangible context for the city's early firefighting apparatus and disaster response history.
- Calvary Cemetery — Pair Forest Home with Milwaukee's oldest Catholic burial ground three miles north to compare Victorian funerary architecture and gatehouse designs.
- Antiques on Pierce — Continue the 19th-century immersion by browsing three floors of vintage curiosities and oddities in nearby Walker's Point.
- Don's TV & Repair — Balance a somber historic walk with a secret speakeasy drink hidden behind a wall of retro television sets.
Good to know
Where in the cemetery is the Newhall House Hotel Monument?
It is located in Section 9. Grab a map at the main office near the entrance gate to help pinpoint the location.
What happened during the Newhall House Hotel fire?
On January 10, 1883, a catastrophic fire swept through the Newhall House Hotel in downtown Milwaukee. Sixty-four unidentified or unclaimed victims were buried together in a mass grave at Forest Home.
When was Forest Home Cemetery established?
It was established in 1850 as a Victorian rural cemetery and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Which famous Milwaukee figures are buried here?
In addition to the Newhall fire victims, the cemetery serves as the final resting place for Milwaukee's major historic beer barons, including members of the Pabst, Schlitz, and Blatz brewing families.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Wikipedia · nps.gov
last checked: 2026-07-21