Egyptian Revival mausoleum in Amish country
The community mausoleum in Lancaster, Pennsylvania’s Greenwood Cemetery features a pair of hand-carved granite sphinxes guarding its post-and-lintel entry. Completed in 1913, the structure was designed by Lancaster architect C. Emlen Urban in the Egyptian Revival architectural style, which was popular during the late 19th and early 20th century. The granite building is 40 feet long, 40 feet wide, 40 feet tall and features a flat roof, gorge-and-roll cornice, and smooth columns with lotus capitals.
The sides and rear of the structure feature double panels of stained-glass windows.
Let's take a peek through the screening. What's inside?
These panels at the rear of the building represent Christ beckoning the soul to rest and the everflowing River of Life.
There are 10 compartments, 60 crypts and 360 individual tombs in the mausoleum. Each compartment has its own ventilation system with an inlet and outlet for the passage of air.
Outlet ventilators
Inlet ventilator
The entry and central tower. Plywood covers a transom which until a few years ago contained a stained-glass window depicting the Cross of Calvary.
Higher up on the granite tower are five pillars in front of four stained glass windows.
There's a slot in the massive bronze door.
Let's take a peek through the slot. Backlit by sunlight is the panel representing Christ beckoning the soul that we observed at the rear of the structure. Note the brightly colored winged orb.
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What an interesting place.
Old cemeteries are fascinating repositories of art and architecture. Long ago they were the scene of picnics and other gatherings. They were spaces for the living.
