Cave Hill Cemetery and Arboretum

Louisville, Kentucky, United States

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Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky, established in 1848 on what was formerly William Johnston’s Cave Hill Farm, is a sprawling 296-acre Victorian-era cemetery and accredited arboretum known for its landscaped garden design that follows natural topography with hills, basins, lakes, and winding paths.

It was designed by civil engineer Edmund Francis Lee to create a serene rural cemetery environment, blending natural beauty with burial sites spread across hilltops and valleys. Over time, exotic trees, ornamental gardens, and artistic monuments were added, making it both a place of remembrance and a public green space.

The cemetery includes a large collection of over 600 tree and shrub species, historic statues, family mausoleums, and a notable entrance pavilion in Italian Renaissance Revival style. Cave Hill also contains a National Cemetery section for military burials and serves as an important cultural and natural landmark offering a peaceful, reflective setting with historical significance in Louisville.​