History

The Bohemian National Cemetery of Baltimore, Cesko-Národní Hrbitov, was established on September 17, 1884, and is one of the most visible signs of the Czech and Slovak community in Baltimore and Maryland.

In the early and middle 1880’ s , the influx of Bohemian immigrants into the Baltimore area brought with it a need for cultural unification. In 1854, a group of these immigrants formed the Czech benevolent society, the Grand Lodge of the CSPS. This group not only helped immigrants acclimate to their new life in America, but also preserved their culture and history through social events, a Czech language school, and the by establishing the Bohemian National Cemetery.

The cemetery is located on 12.5 acres of land in eastern Baltimore on Horners Lane, a short distance from what was once the center of the Czech community in Baltimore, Maryland. After its establishment it was a site for gatherings and traditional cultural events. During the weekends, Czech families would walk or take the trolley to the cemetery where they would gather for dances, gymnastic activities, games, singing, and of course to share some traditional Czech food.

When visiting the cemetery grounds, you will notice that most of the grave markers are in the Czech language, and many of the stones bear pictures of the deceased. Unique to the Cemetery and the Baltimore area, are several graves that are marked with a bust of the deceased. The crypt, located towards the rear of the cemetery, was built in 1897 and is also a historic artifact unique to the cemetery grounds.

Among the many people interred at the cemetery are former members of the Baltimore City Council, the State Legislature, the first head of the Maryland Lottery, a US Marshall, founders and presidents of several of the savings and loans firms, judges, attorneys, and veterans. Frantiska Rohov was the first recorded burial on February 2, 1885, and Sgt. William R. Jecelin was the only Marylander to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor during the Korean War.

The Bohemian National Cemetery of Baltimore is still a working cemetery, and can be visited from 10:00am to dusk. Members of the CSPS Lodge, and volunteers are working hard to cleanup the cemetery and establish the location as a historic site. Please contact us if you are interested in visiting the cemetery, have an interest in volunteering, or if you would like to become an active member of the CSPS Lodge.

The cemetery remains a permanent record of the early years of Bohemian immigrants in the United States and in some cases is the only link that descendents have with their past.