This Amazingly Creepy Missouri Mausoleum Will Soon Be Open For Tours
By Liz Oliver|Published June 26, 2018
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Liz Oliver
Author
Liz is a Missouri native with a B.A. in English from Mizzou and a M.A. in Non-Profit Administration from Lindenwood University. She works for a STL metro-area community college and enjoys writing, traveling, and indoor cycling. Her true passion is forcing her encyclopedic knowledge of Missouri facts on uninterested strangers from across the globe!
There are many beautiful cemeteries across Missouri. You’ll find that most Missourians find their final resting place beneath the ground. One notable exception, however, is the Miller Mausoleum in rural Johnson County. This huge mausoleum was built over 100 years ago and now for the first time in history, its doors will be open for guided tours. If you’ve been dying to see inside beautiful roadside structure, now’s your chance!
Located in Holden, Missouri is a grand mausoleum that was constructed by Joseph M. MIller. Mr. Miller started constructing the mausoleum in 1917, mainly based upon his religious conviction that people should be buried above ground. It took nearly 10 years to complete the structure. In the 1930s, the family used the second level as a museum. Sadly, over the years the building was vandalized many times.
After decades of vandalism and without revenue to fix the broken windows and damaged structure, things weren't looking too good for the mausoleum. Luckily, the great grandson of Mr. Miller, Carl Cranfill, has taken over the property and has begun to restore the structure and improve the surrounding lands.
Inside the mausoleum, 23 members of the Miller family were held in 15 crypts. The first phase of repair was to move the family members remains to the Holden Cemetery. However, Joseph Miller and his wife's remains were placed in an above-ground monument.
Construction has been underway for the last year to prevent any further damage to the mausoleum. The roof has been repaired, new doors with better security have been installed, and much of the concrete has been patched.
However, the work is not done. Mr. Cranfill is still raising funds to complete the renovations. He hopes to get the Miller Mausoleum added to the National Register of Historic Places and make the area into an educational nature park.
So far, the structure is looking great! It is now safe for visitors and to keep the momentum going, Mr. Cranfill is hosting an open house on Saturday, June 30th from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. Tours are free of cost, but there will be t-shirts for sale that will help fund the renovation projects.
After the open house, there will be other opportunities to view the structure but there will be a fee for future tours. Over the years, the Miller Mausoleum has been admired from afar by hundreds of travelers. This amazing structure is worth preserving for years to come.
Find Miller Mausoleum at 268 SW 131 Highway, Holden, MO. If you're interested in learning more about the project and the open house, visit the Friends of Miller Mausoleum on Facebook.
Are you interested in touring the mausoleum? Tell us what you think about this amazing structure in the comments below.
