You’ve probably seen it from the Tri-State Tollway. That massive, sprawling green space just off I-294 where the traffic always seems to bunch up near the Des Plaines River. Most people driving by just see a blur of headstones and manicured grass, but if you actually pull off at All Saints Cemetery North River Road Des Plaines IL, the vibe changes immediately. It’s quiet. Really quiet.
It’s one of those places that feels like a library of Chicago history, just buried under the sod. Honestly, it’s huge. We are talking about nearly 300 acres of land managed by the Catholic Bishop of Chicago. It opened back in 1923, right when the city was booming and the downtown cemeteries were starting to feel a little too crowded for comfort. Since then, it’s become the final resting place for over half a million people. That is a staggering number when you stop to think about it. Every single one of those markers represents a life, a story, and a family that likely lived through the Great Depression, the World Wars, or the transformation of the Northwest suburbs from farmland into the concrete sprawl we know today.
The Architecture of the Afterlife
If you’re into local history or just cool buildings, the first thing you’ll notice isn't the graves. It's the shrines. All Saints isn't just a "dig a hole and drop a stone" kind of place. It’s famous for its community mausoleums. The East and West Mausoleums are massive. They feel like cathedrals, with all that heavy stone and stained glass that catches the light just right in the afternoon.
The architecture here follows a specific trend in 20th-century Catholic burial traditions. In the early days, everyone wanted a private family plot with a big granite monument. But as land became more precious and tastes shifted, these large-scale community mausoleums became the "it" thing. It allowed for year-round visitation without having to trudge through a foot of Chicago slush in February. Inside, you’ll find incredible mosaics. These aren't just cheap tiles; they are intricate works of religious art that would cost a fortune to replicate today.
Why the Location on North River Road is Special
The geography of All Saints Cemetery North River Road Des Plaines IL is actually pretty interesting if you’re a bit of a nerd about land use. It sits right along the Des Plaines River. Now, anyone who lives in the Northwest suburbs knows that the river is a blessing and a curse. It provides this beautiful, lush backdrop, but it also likes to overflow. The cemetery designers had to be smart about drainage and elevation.
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Because it's tucked right there between Central Road and the tollway, it acts as a massive "green lung" for Des Plaines. In a suburb that is increasingly covered in asphalt and warehouses near O'Hare, having 290-odd acres of protected green space is a big deal for the local ecosystem. You’ll see deer, hawks, and all sorts of wildlife that have realized the cemetery is a much safer place to hang out than the nearby forest preserves where the hiking trails get crowded.
Famous Residents and Chicago Legends
You can't talk about All Saints without mentioning the "celebrity" factor. It’s the final home of some heavy hitters. Most notably, you’ve got Ray Kroc. Yeah, the guy who turned McDonald’s into a global empire. He’s in a private mausoleum here. It’s kind of ironic if you think about it—the man who invented the ultimate "fast" food is now resting in one of the slowest, most peaceful spots in the county.
Then there’s Ken Venturi, the legendary golfer and broadcaster. And Gabby Hartnett, the Hall of Fame catcher for the Chicago Cubs. If you're a baseball fan, walking past Hartnett's resting place feels like a pilgrimage. It reminds you that the history of Chicago sports isn't just in the record books; it’s literally etched in the stone here.
But honestly? The most moving parts of the cemetery aren't the famous graves. It’s the sections dedicated to priests and nuns who spent their lives serving the local parishes. There are entire rows of identical markers for various religious orders. It’s a visual representation of a lifetime of service, all grouped together in the end. It’s humbling, even if you aren't particularly religious.
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Navigating the Grounds: A Practical Reality
Let’s get real for a second. If you are going there to visit a loved one, the place is a maze. Seriously. You can’t just "wing it" at All Saints. With over 500,000 interments, if you don't have a section number and a lot number, you are going to be driving in circles for an hour.
- The Office is Your Best Friend: They have a records office right on the grounds. Go there first. They have maps that are actually readable.
- The Digital Search: The Catholic Cemeteries of Chicago website actually has a decent "Find a Loved One" tool. Use it before you leave the house. Save the screenshot.
- The Entrance Situation: There are multiple gates, but the main one on River Road is usually the safest bet for staying oriented.
The staff there are used to people being a bit overwhelmed. It’s an emotional place, and it’s physically huge. They are generally pretty patient, though they stay busy because All Saints is still a "working" cemetery with multiple burials happening almost every day.
The Cultural Shift in Burial Choices
One thing that is changing at All Saints Cemetery North River Road Des Plaines IL is how people are being buried. Twenty years ago, it was almost all full-body caskets. Today? Not so much. Cremation has become huge, even within the Catholic Church, provided the remains are kept in a "sacred place."
Because of this, you’ll see more columbarium niches—those small walls where urns are placed. They take up way less space and are often more affordable. All Saints has adapted to this by creating beautiful "Garden of Remembrance" areas specifically for cremated remains. It’s a bit of a shift from the old-school sea of headstones, but it’s how the cemetery stays relevant in 2026.
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The prices for plots and niches have gone up, just like everything else. A single grave plot here can set you back several thousand dollars, and that doesn't even count the opening and closing fees or the headstone. It’s an investment in a permanent piece of Chicago real estate. Some people buy their plots decades in advance just to make sure they get a spot near their parents or grandparents. It’s a "pre-need" thing that sounds morbid until you actually have to deal with a death in the family—then, having that paperwork done is a godsend.
What to Do If You're Planning a Visit
Whether you’re doing genealogy research or paying respects, don't just rush in and out. Take a minute to look at the older sections. You’ll see names that reflect the massive waves of Polish, Italian, and Irish immigrants who built Chicago. The iconography on the older headstones is fascinating—lots of weeping willows, lambs for children’s graves, and ornate crucifixes that you just don't see on the modern, flat markers.
Actionable Steps for Visitors:
- Check the Hours: The gates usually close at dusk. If you stay too late, you might find yourself locked in, which is a very different kind of cemetery experience than you probably wanted.
- Respect the Rules: No dogs. No picnics. It sounds obvious, but people forget this is a sacred space for a lot of folks.
- Bring Water: If you’re walking the grounds in July, it gets hot. There isn't a ton of shade in the newer sections where the trees haven't fully matured yet.
- Genealogy Prep: If you’re there for family history, bring a soft brush and some water to clean off old stones so you can read the dates. Avoid using harsh chemicals or wire brushes; you’ll ruin the stone.
- Plan for Traffic: River Road is a nightmare during rush hour. If you're going on a weekday, try to hit it between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM.
All Saints is more than just a graveyard. It’s a 290-acre archive of the Northwest suburbs. It’s a place where the chaos of the Tri-State Tollway meets the absolute stillness of history. Whether you have family there or you're just a fan of local landmarks, it’s a site that demands a bit of respect and a lot of time to fully appreciate.
Practical Next Steps:
If you are looking for a specific grave, visit the official Catholic Cemeteries of Chicago website to use their locator tool before arriving. If you're planning for the future, schedule a "pre-need" consultation at the North River Road office to walk the different sections—the difference between the old-growth tree sections and the new mausoleums is significant in terms of both atmosphere and cost. For those interested in local history, the Des Plaines Public Library holds archives that often correlate with the families buried here, providing a deeper look into the lives behind the names on the stones.