Plans for Woodland Cemetery began in 1841. Situated on one of the highest points in Dayton, Ohio, Woodland Cemetery opened in 1843, and the first interment was in July. Initially, the cemetery was on the outskirts of the city, but the city would eventually grow to surround it. By 1849, the cemetery board had created plans for the gateway, chapel, and office at Woodland. These constructions were completed in 1889 and were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The cemetery expanded its grounds in 1908 when it purchased land from the University of Dayton, and a tunnel was constructed to connect these 35 acres with the main area of the cemetery. Another major construction project began in 1968 as work began on the mausoleum and crematory. The first cremation at Woodland was in 1969.
In 1991, the Woodland Arboretum Foundation was established, and free audio tours began being offered in 1998. As of 2011, Woodland Cemetery covers 200 acres. Woodland Cemetery supports an annual photo contest that began in the 1990s. Several notable people are buried at Woodland Cemetery such as the Wright Brothers, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Charles Kettering, and Daniel C. Cooper.
From the guide to the Woodland Cemetery Collection, 1841-2010, (Wright State University, Special Collections and Archives)
