Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Missouri St. Louis The Lemp Family Tomb

The Lemp Family Tomb

This mausoleum is the final resting place of one of St. Louis's richest and most tragic families.

St. Louis, Missouri

Added By
jtchibnalljr
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The exterior of the mausoleum.   sombrant
  christina rutz
  christina rutz
A stained glass window inside the tomb.   christina rutz
  SemiruralYeti / Atlas Obscura User
Inside the Lemp Family Tomb, highly recommend the guided tours!  
  ChrisYunker
Inside the Lemp Family Tomb  
  SemiruralYeti / Atlas Obscura User
  SemiruralYeti / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The Lemp family is probably one of the most prestigious American families you've never heard of. The hard-working German immigrants made their fortune as beer brewers in 19th-century St. Louis alongside, and in competition with, the Anheuser-Busch family of Budweiser fame. However, despite their success, the Lemp family could not escape tragedy, as many died by suicide or "mysterious circumstances."

The prominent family bought a plot of land at the highest point of St. Louis's Bellefontaine Cemetery and constructed a large family tomb in which the deceased might peacefully rest. According to The Riverfront Times, the structure was completed in 1902 for $60,000, roughly the equivalent of $1.5 million in today's money.

At present, the large mausoleum is less than half-full. However, according to some, there is still plenty of activity inside: Paranormal enthusiasts report seeing Lemp spirits walking around the tomb at dawn and dusk, suggesting that their tragic lives have left them unsettled in death.

If ghosts aren't your thing, the Lemp Family Tomb is still a must-see for its significance to St. Louis and brewing history. In fact, you can make a day out of it by visiting the Lemp Mansion—now a restaurant and inn—or the old Lemp Brewery.

Related Tags

Cemeteries Mausoleums Tombs Breweries Beer

Know Before You Go

While you're at the cemetery, make sure to visit some of the Lemps' famous neighbors-in-death, including explorer William Clark, U.S. senator Thomas Hart Benton, and many notable St. Louis residents.

Community Contributors

Added By

jtchibnalljr

Edited By

mikewalker, SemiruralYeti, Karaann

  • mikewalker
  • SemiruralYeti
  • Karaann

Published

November 18, 2020

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://burialsearch.com/354/Bellefontaine_Cem
  • http://stlouispatina.com/lemp-mausoleum/
  • https://www.riverfronttimes.com/newsblog/2012/10/18/one-of-the-last-lemps-offers-tours-of-crypt-private-stories-about-famous-family
  • https://www.legendsofamerica.com/mo-lempmansion/
  • https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6132977/william-jacob-lemp/photo
  • https://www.stlmag.com/history/profiles/the-lemps-the-braunecks-and-the-secrets-of-lot-36/
  • http://www.lempmansion.com/history.htm
The Lemp Family Tomb
4947 W Florissant Ave
St. Louis, Missouri, 63115
United States
38.689731, -90.224608
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The Girl in the Shadow Box

St. Louis, Missouri

miles away

Bellefontaine Cemetery

St. Louis, Missouri

miles away

Chuck Berry's House

St. Louis, Missouri

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of St. Louis

St. Louis

Missouri

Places 36
Stories 10

Nearby Places

The Girl in the Shadow Box

St. Louis, Missouri

miles away

Bellefontaine Cemetery

St. Louis, Missouri

miles away

Chuck Berry's House

St. Louis, Missouri

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of St. Louis

St. Louis

Missouri

Places 36
Stories 10

Related Places

  • Aerial view of the Necrópole

    Santos, Brazil

    Memorial Necrópole Ecumênica

    In this Brazilian city, a vertical graveyard rules the skyline.

  • Budapest, Hungary

    Kerepesi Cemetery

    Time stands still at this serene burial ground in the center of Budapest.

  • A corridor in the Mountain View Mausoleum.

    Altadena, California

    Mountain View Mortuary and Cemetery

    This magnificent mausoleum is as much a work of art as it is a historic resting place.

  • The Tower of Memories.

    Wheat Ridge, Colorado

    Tower of Memories

    A seven-story 1920s mausoleum outside Denver houses thousands of remains.

  • Hang Jebat’s final resting place.

    Malacca, Malaysia

    Hang Jebat Mausoleum

    A mausoleum dedicated to a warrior felled by misplaced loyalty and tragic circumstances.

  • Bellefontaine Cemetery.

    St. Louis, Missouri

    Bellefontaine Cemetery

    The first rural cemetery west of the Mississippi is home to the elaborate tombs of St. Louis' local beer barons.

  • Blue Sky Mausoleum.

    Buffalo, New York

    Blue Sky Mausoleum

    This unique crypt designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for his longtime friend was not completed in either man's lifetime.

  • José Alfredo Jiménez’s mausoleum in Dolores Hidalgo.

    Dolores Hidalgo, Mexico

    Mausoleum of José Alfredo Jiménez

    A tomb in the shape of a traditional Mexican hat and shawl for the father of modern rancheras.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.