Inside Old Mission Mausoleum, Wichita, Kansas

On Memorial Day weekend in 2023, we went inside Wichita’s largest mausoleum, Old Mission Mausoleum.

The massive mausoleum has four interconnected units that were built over a span of thirty-six years. The structure takes up an entire acre of space on the grounds of Old Mission Cemetery, but Old Mission Mausoleum is owned and maintained by the City of Wichita.

Google Maps

Our photos certainly do not do this mausoleum justice, and it should be seen in person to truly appreciate the beauty and size of this historic structure. If you have a chance to go inside, you should.

The museum is on the National Register of Historic Places due to its significance as a Mediterranean Revival-style mausoleum. There are more than 2,500 individuals interred inside the mausoleum, some of whom are notable.

There are … families known for aviation (Beech), outdoor equipment (Coleman) and oil (Vickers). There are also senators, veterans, a four-star general and the 1926 Miss America, Norma Des Cygne Smallwood Bruce. Source

Just inside the mausoleum doors, you can find a certificate displayed indicating that David G. Stuart nominated the mausoleum for the honor.

David, who is in his 80’s, maintains a website that has a lot of history and information on Old Mission Mausoleum. He also will be interred here, and has a space with his name on it.

The URL on David’s business card leads here, where you can find more information about the mausoleum.

I skipped hunting down the notable and famous who are interred here, but stumbled across some other interesting folks. Here are some of the photos I took inside the mausoleum, in no particular order.

Mausoleum entrance.

Amsden Memorial at the entrance. Floyd Throckmorton Amsden was a Wichita mayor and the president of Amsden Lumber Company. His wife Barbara ran the lumber company after his death and was devoted to Wichita and her family.

Many members of the Murdock family are interred here including Marshall Murdock, founder of the Wichita Eagle, and his son Marcellus who also served on the board for Old Mission Mausoleum.

Victor Murdock was a US Congressman and a Kansas State Representative in addition to being the managing editor of the Wichita Eagle.

One of the bronze plaques is for Love’n Tangle Murdock, daughter of Marcellus Murdock and the “household pet” was just eight when she died after becoming violently ill.

One of the stained glass window designs in the mausoleum.

This room has smaller niches in the wall with bronze plaques.

George Saxton is honored as the founder and builder of Old Mission Mausoleum. “About five years after coming to Wichita he exercised an option on the ground at 21st and Hillside. It was his vision and foresight which brought about the creation of Old Mission Mausoleum in 1918. In 1918, he supervised planning for construction of the first of four mausoleum units. The first unit was built in 1920-1922, the second in 1928-29, the third in 1939-40 and the fourth and final unit during 1948-50.” Source

Christmas decorations in May.

A long walkway.

Jacob Archibald Butts was a well known car salesman in Wichita. One of his former dealership buildings, the J. Arch Butts Packard Building, is the current home of Wichita architectural firm Tessere.

One of the stained glass window designs in the mausoleum with some grave goods.

Thelma.

Another long walkway.

One of the stained glass window designs in the mausoleum with an American flag hung from it.

“I love you!”

More long walkway.

Lamp detail.

Stained glass window over the Miller crypt.

Architectural detail at the back entrance of the mausoleum.

April.

If you are interested in a video tour, you can take a quick 12 minute walking tour with me through the mausoleum. If you watch, let me know if you hear anything strange (aside from my heavy breathing).