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JFK in a Graveyard, But Not His Grave

Field review by the editors.

Taylorville, Illinois

A statue of President Kennedy with squinty eyes, eight feet tall, carved from white Italian Carrara marble, stands atop a pedestal surrounded by graves in Oak Hill Cemetery. Although the pedestal is engraved with JFK's name and lifespan, he is not buried here; his grave is 800 miles away in Virginia. The origins of the statue are obscure, but it was commissioned only a month after JFK's assassination, and Robert Kennedy supposedly supplied a reference photo of his brother's face to be used by the Italian stone-carvers. The statue proved to be a good deal for the cemetery, as all the plots surrounding the statue were subsequently sold out.

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JFK in a Graveyard, But Not His Grave

Oak Hill Cemetery

Address:
820 S. Cherokee St., Taylorville, IL
Directions:
On the far east side of Oak Hill Cemetery. Enter the cemetery from S. Cherokee St., drive all the way to the back, then make a right. You'll see the statue ahead, the tallest white thing around.
Hours:
Gates open daily 8-5 Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Admission:
Free
RA Rates:
Worth a Detour
Save to My Sights

Nearby Offbeat Places

Abe Lincoln and Pig StatueAbe Lincoln and Pig Statue, Taylorville, IL - < 1 mi.
Monument to Kay the ElephantMonument to Kay the Elephant, Taylorville, IL - 2 mi.
Giant Hand with Painted NailsGiant Hand with Painted Nails, Pana, IL - 14 mi.
In the region:
Illinois Firefighter Memorial, Springfield, IL - 27 mi.

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