Outdoor Exploration
Daytime self-guided walk
Walk the terraced hillsides of Madison's oldest cemetery and view the George Grey Barnard 'Let There Be Light' marble sculpture and Civil War veteran graves.
- Duration:
- 1 hr
Cemetery / Burial Ground
Springdale Cemetery
Madison's oldest active municipal cemetery, established 1839 on terraced hillsides above the Ohio River and famous in local lore for a headless lantern-bearer and the George Grey Barnard statue 'Let There Be Light.'
600 W 5th Street, Madison, IN 47250
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Free to visit during daylight hours; guided November tour through Visit Madison may carry a small fee.
Access
Limited Access
Terraced hillside with paved drives but uneven walking surfaces; portions on steep Hanging Rock Hill are not accessible.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1839 · Madison's oldest still-active municipal cemetery (founded 1839) · Burial place of Civil War veterans, abolitionists, and 19th-century Indiana political figures · Site of one of two known castings of George Grey Barnard's 'Let There Be Light' · Gothic Revival cemetery chapel designed by Frederick Wallick
Springdale Cemetery is the oldest still-active municipal cemetery in Madison, Indiana. It was established in 1839 when the earlier Third Street Cemetery (the site of today's John Paul Park) was closed and burials were transferred to the higher ground west of downtown. The grounds straddle West 5th Street between Vine and Cragmont Streets in Jefferson County.
The landscape was laid out with terraced European-style family plots on Hanging Rock Hill and stone-lined drainage ditches dating to the mid-19th century. A Gothic Revival cemetery chapel, designed by architect Frederick Wallick, stands near the entrance. Notable burials include Civil War veterans, members of Madison's early-20th-century Jewish community, and African American residents of the historic Georgetown neighborhood, alongside Indiana state political figures and prominent local citizens.
The cemetery is also home to one of two existing carvings of George Grey Barnard's marble sculpture 'Let There Be Light.' The 15-foot Carrara marble figure sits atop Barnard's parents' grave; the other casting was sold to the Bernheim family and placed in Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville. The Madison work stands without an inscription.
Springdale remains an active burial ground today, and Visit Madison offers an annual November guided tour that covers cemetery history, notable burials, and local folklore. The site is also covered in regional cemetery-history writing (including the 'Cemetery Stories' blog) and was the subject of a 'Blown in a Cemetery' video documentary segment.
Sources
- https://cemeterystories.wordpress.com/2019/09/04/springdale-cemetery-in-madison-indiana/
- https://visitmadison.org/event/springdale-cemetery-november-guided-tour/
- https://www.madisoncourier.com/archives/barnard-remembered-as-one-of-the-greatest/article_2bd1fa0a-3edd-56b7-9774-6849f3111f61.html
- https://pocketsights.com/tours/place/Springdale-Cemetery-Statues-86053:8753
- https://davidkummer.com/2018/01/07/most-haunted-places-in-madison-indiana-and-hanover-part-2/
- https://www.angelfire.com/in4/believe/springdale/springdale.html
- https://gravelyspeaking.com/2015/10/18/dreamless-dust/
Headless ghost carrying a lantern; only legs and lantern visible'Let There Be Light' Barnard statue said to weep tears of blood on Easter morningBarnard statue said to chase visitors who kiss her feet
According to David Kummer's regional feature 'Most Haunted Places in Madison, Indiana and Hanover Part 2,' the Southern Indiana Ghosts Angelfire archive, and Gravely Speaking's 2015 Barnard feature, two legends recur at Springdale Cemetery. The first describes a ghost with a lantern that wanders between the tombstone rows at night; only the legs and the moving lantern are visible, while everything above the waist is unseen. The moving light is said to be how locals distinguish the figure from stationary cemetery lamps.
The second cluster of stories surrounds George Grey Barnard's 15-foot Carrara marble 'Let There Be Light' figure, which marks Barnard's parents' grave. Per multiple independent sources, the statue is said by local tellers to cry tears of blood every Easter morning, and visitors who kiss the statue's feet are reportedly told she will step down from the pedestal and chase them briefly before returning to her place.
Additional Madison ghost coverage and a regional 'Blown in a Cemetery' YouTube segment cite Springdale as a recurring location, and the lore is now corroborated across at least three independent regional outlets.
Notable Entities
Headless lantern-bearerGeorge Grey Barnard 'Let There Be Light' figure (folkloric)
Media Appearances
- Blown in a Cemetery 2 - Haunted Springdale Cemetery (YouTube)
Plan Your Visit
2 ways to experience Guided Tour Booking Required
Springdale Cemetery November guided tour
Visit Madison's annual guided tour highlighting cemetery history, notable burials, and folklore.
- Duration:
- 1.5 hr
Sources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
- 1.cemeterystories.wordpress.com/2019/09/04/springdale-cemetery-in-madison-indiana
- 2.visitmadison.org/event/springdale-cemetery-november-guided-tour
- 3.madisoncourier.com/archives/barnard-remembered-as-one-of-the-greatest/article_2bd1fa0a-3edd-56b7-9774-6849f3111f61.html
- 4.pocketsights.com/tours/place/Springdale-Cemetery-Statues-86053:8753
- 5.davidkummer.com/2018/01/07/most-haunted-places-in-madison-indiana-and-hanover-part-2
- 6.angelfire.com/in4/believe/springdale/springdale.html
- 7.gravelyspeaking.com/2015/10/18/dreamless-dust
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Springdale Cemetery family-friendly?
Daytime visits are appropriate for all ages; terrain is hilly and uneven. Overall family fit: High.
How much does it cost to visit Springdale Cemetery?
Free to visit during daylight hours; guided November tour through Visit Madison may carry a small fee. This location is free to visit.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Springdale Cemetery wheelchair accessible?
Springdale Cemetery has limited wheelchair accessibility. Terrain: Terraced hillside with paved drives but uneven walking surfaces; portions on steep Hanging Rock Hill are not accessible..