Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum

Dayton, Ohio, United States

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Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum in Dayton, Ohio, was established in 1841 to serve the city's growing need for burial space by creating a scenic, park-like rural cemetery.

Founded by John Van Cleve, the first male child born in Dayton, the cemetery began with 40 acres of wooded hills and ravines one mile southeast of downtown. It grew steadily over the 19th and 20th centuries, now covering about 225 acres with over 3,000 trees and 165 species of native Midwestern woody plants, some designated as Ohio Champions.

The landscape features rolling hills, historic architecture including a chapel with rare Tiffany stained glass, and statuary reflecting Dayton's cultural heritage. It is the final resting place for many prominent figures such as the Wright brothers, poet Paul Laurence Dunbar, and inventor Charles Kettering. Woodland has long served as a green space for contemplation, historic preservation, and community events, balancing its role as an arboretum, cemetery, and cultural landmark in Dayton.