Tucked into Cleveland’s Lake View Cemetery is a 124 year old chapel that is a must-see if you like architecture, chapels, or Tiffany glass. 

Wade Chapel was donated to the cemetery by Jeptha Wade II in memory of his grandfather who was a founder of the cemetery as well as co-founder of Western Union. Ground was broken in 1898 and it was finished in 1901

Marble plays an important role in this chapel but kind of plays second fiddle to the glass. The showstopper here is an enormous stained glass window that was produced by Tiffany. It is stunning and our tour guide lingered on the story of this window for a while. He says that Mr. Wade bought the window, understanding that it would first be exhibited at the Paris Exposition of 1900 before coming to Cleveland. 

But, if you go, don’t miss the 25 foot long wall mosaics on either side of the chapel. They are laid out in intricate designs that tell two different but converging stories using the theme “The Voyage of Life.”

All of the glass is Tiffany’s signature Favrile art glass which is rich and stunning. I could stare at it all day.

The tour guide suggested they still have many questions about this chapel but they believe that Louis Comfort Tiffany designed the interior himself. He noted that many details here are similar to elements used in Tiffany’s Chapel at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893.

This feels like a research project in the waiting for some art history student. If only these walls could talk! 

It’s open for tours for a few hours a day. You can look around on your own but, like most places, you’ll learn more if you invest a few minutes in one of the free tours.