The Haunting Legacy of Showmen’s Rest in Forest Park, IL
Just outside of Chicago, Forest Park, Illinois, is home to a scary number of cemeteries! In fact, The Guinness Book of World Records once noted that Forest Park's population is more dead than alive—quite literally. Over 800,000 souls are buried in the village, making its resting places a significant part of the town's story. But among these cemeteries, one site stands out as particularly haunting, filled not just with history, but with a tragic and eerie legacy that lingers to this day. That place is none other than Showmen’s Rest.
Tucked within Woodlawn Cemetery, Showmen’s Rest is the final resting place for circus performers from around the world, made possible by the Showmen’s League of America. Its origins, however, are marked by sorrow, tied to one of the most appalling accidents in circus history—the 1918 Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus train wreck. From the symbolic elephant headstones to the whispered tales of spirits that roam the grounds, Showmen’s Rest is where memory and mystery meet. Today, it continues to captivate visitors, drawing them into the strange world of circus performers, tragedy, and the eerie silence of the departed.
Showmen's Rest: The Tragic Origins
Back in the early 1900s, running away to join the circus wasn’t just a tale parents told their kids—it was a genuine lifestyle. People from all walks of life joined these traveling shows, finding community under the Big Top. Life in the circus meant adventure, camaraderie, and for many, a sense of belonging they couldn’t find elsewhere. But as thrilling as it was, it was also a hard, demanding life, filled with dangers both on and off the stage. And in the early hours of June 22, 1918, those dangers culminated in the form of one of the deadliest train wrecks in U.S. history.
The Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus, a well-known troupe traveling across the Midwest, had just finished a performance in Michigan City, Indiana, and was en route to their next stop in Hammond. The performers and workers were fast asleep in their wooden sleeping cars when disaster struck. An empty troop train barreling down the tracks from Michigan, its engineer, Alonzo Sargent, having fallen asleep at the controls, plowed into the rear of the circus train. The impact was devastating. The wooden train cars were no match for the force, and they quickly splintered and burst into flames.
In mere moments, between 56 and 61 lives were lost—performers, workers, and animals alike. The fire that followed the crash was so intense that identifying the bodies was nearly impossible. Among the dead were Arthur Dierckx and Max Nietzborn of the "Great Dierckx Brothers" strongman act and Jennie Ward Todd of "The Flying Wards." Many of the victims were buried with simple grave markers, labeled “Unidentified Male” or inscribed only with their circus nicknames like "Baldy" or "Smiley."
The Showmen's League of America, formed just five years earlier with Buffalo Bill Cody as its first president, had purchased a section of Woodlawn Cemetery in Forest Park for its members. No one could have anticipated that this plot, known as Showmen’s Rest, would become the final resting place for so many of their fellow performers in one tragic day. Five days after the accident, a mass grave burial was held, with mourners from the circus community and beyond gathering to pay their respects.
Yet, even in the aftermath of such tragedy, the circus community showed its resilience. Competitors like Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey lent equipment, performers, and supplies so the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus could continue its tour, canceling only two performances. The show, as they say, must go on. And go on it did, even as the memory of that fateful night lingered in the hearts of circus folk for generations to come. Today, visitors to Showmen’s Rest can still feel the weight of history, with some locals even whispering about hearing the ghostly sounds of circus elephants trumpeting in the night.
The Symbolism of the Elephants
At Showmen’s Rest, five majestic elephant statues stand solemnly over the graves of the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus performers, each with a foot placed gently on a ball and trunks lowered in a posture of mourning. These elephants, carved from stone, aren't just a tribute to the circus itself, but a symbolic representation of the grief and loss experienced by the circus community. In circus culture, elephants have always been a symbol of strength, intelligence, and loyalty, making them a fitting guardian for the resting souls of those who dedicated their lives to the Big Top.
The trunks of the elephants at Showmen’s Rest are lowered—a deliberate choice that carries significant meaning. In many cultures—and even in circus lore—a raised trunk represents joy, excitement, and celebration. But here, the trunks are lowered, symbolizing sorrow, loss, and mourning. This simple gesture serves as a poignant reminder of the lives lost during that tragic train wreck. These stone elephants, with their quiet dignity, watch over the graves, ensuring that the memories of the performers and workers who died that night are never forgotten. The symbolism is a quiet, yet powerful tribute, marking the area as more than just a burial ground, but a place of remembrance and reverence.
Annual Memorial and the Legacy of the Showmen
Each year, on Memorial Day, a special ceremony is held at Showmen’s Rest in Forest Park to honor the circus performers buried there. This annual tradition pays tribute not only to those who perished in the tragic 1918 Hagenbeck-Wallace train wreck but also to the many showmen who have found their final resting place at Showmen’s Rest over the years. It's a time to reflect on the lives and legacies of these performers, whose dedication to bringing joy and wonder to audiences shaped an important chapter in American entertainment history. The Memorial Day service is a solemn yet celebratory occasion, filled with stories of life under the Big Top, ensuring that the spirit of the circus lives on, even as the performers themselves have passed.
But the legacy of Showmen’s Rest extends beyond the boundaries of Forest Park. Similar burial grounds can be found across the country, each dedicated to preserving the memories of circus performers. One notable location is in Hugo, Oklahoma, a town known as "Circus City, USA," where the Showmen’s Rest at Mount Olivet Cemetery continues the tradition of honoring circus folk. Another significant site is in Miami, Florida, where large statues of elephants and lions stand sentinel over the graves of circus performers at Southern Memorial Park. Tampa, Florida, also has a Showmen’s Rest, located near the Greater Tampa Showmen’s Association. These locations remind visitors of the unique and often nomadic lives of circus workers, ensuring their contributions are remembered for generations to come.
Visiting Showmen’s Rest
Visiting Showmen's Rest is a unique and solemn experience, tucked away in the peaceful Woodlawn Cemetery in Forest Park, Illinois. As you make your way through the grounds, you’ll find the Showmen’s Rest section marked by five towering elephant statues, each with its trunk lowered in mourning—a sad symbol of the loss that took place so many years ago. This section is a resting place for over 50 circus performers and workers who guesomely lost their lives in the 1918 Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus train wreck. The site is both a tribute to their lives and a reflection of the tight-knit circus community that came together in the face of tragedy.
Whether you’re a history buff, a lover of circus lore, or simply someone looking for a quiet place to reflect, Showmen’s Rest is worth a visit. It's more than just a section of a cemetery—it's a place where stories, legacies, and memories of an era are kept alive. As you stand among the elephants and gravestones, you're reminded of the resilience of a community that once traveled the country bringing joy to others, and now rests together, honored and remembered.