Colorado’s Mount Lindo Cross
Colorado’s Mount Lindo Cemetery and Mausoleum rests on top of a mountain that overlooks Highway 285 and Denver. On the East side of the mountain is the largest lighted cross in the United States. The history of the lighted cross goes back to the Olinger family, who founded the Olinger mortuary company in Denver in the 1890s.
George Olinger Sr., son of Olinger mortuary founders, John and Emma Olinger, bought Mount Lindo in the 1930s. He later sold it to Francis S. Van Derbur, who was married to George’s daughter, Gwendolyn. Van Derbur originally intended to develop the mountain, but instead he made it into a cemetery in 1963. His father, Francis C. Van Derbur, expressed an interest in being buried on Mount Lindo with the spot being marked by a cross. Francis S. had the famous lighted cross installed on the East side of the mountain so his mother, Pearl, could see it from her home in Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood.
The cross is 393 feet high and 254 feet across, and can be seen from the highway and parts of the city it watches over. It was partially conceived by designer Donald Lee Frees, who also worked on designs for many Olinger buildings, including the Tower of Memories at Crown Hill Cemetery. The cross was first lighted on Easter in 1964.
The Mount Lindo cemetery gates are on South Turkey Creek Road just off Highway 285 near Tiny Town. Mount Lindo rises 7660 feet above sea level and is owned and operated by Olinger Mortuary.
Photograph:
Mount Lindo Cross from the Morrison exit off Highway 285, 10 November 2006; You can click on the photo for another, larger view.
Cemetery Burials:
For more information on Mount Lindo burials and Jefferson County, Colorado cemeteries see: Online Colorado Death Records Indexes and Cemetery Burials
Sources:
Jones, Rebecca. “Mount Lindo bears its cross: regarding the big cross up on the mountain…My husband says there’s a graveyard there.” Rocky Mountain News, 2 March 1997, p. 27D.
Martin, Claire. “A Colorado Life: Designer helped conceive huge Mount Lindo cross.” The Denver Post, 15 December 2004, p. C10.
April 9, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Just stumbled in here a few days ago … this is a fascinating topic. Great idea for a blog, I’m going to hang back and see what else develops.
April 22, 2008 at 10:30 am
This is one of the most spectacular and original places I have ever been. My Mother’s ashes are scattered here and I could think of no place else she would rather be. If ever in Colorado, this is a site to see. The hand made monuments at the top of the mountain are absolutely beautiful. As well as the view!!!!!!!
April 22, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Hi Theresa,
I saw your comment on your mother’s ashes at Olinger Mount Lindo. I thought you would be interested to know that June 22, 2008 there is an event called Hike for Hospice that benefits Porter Hospice and St. Anthony Hospice. The event is at Olinger Mount Lindo and when hikers reach the top, they can release a dove in honor or memory of a loved one. You can register or find out more information at http://www.hikeforhospice.org, or call 303.715.7615. Hope to see you then! Thanks, Paige
May 2, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Every time I look over the mountains from the balcony of my condominium near Cheesman Park, I am unutterably offended by the cross. I am NOT anti-Christian, but it disturbs my sense of tolerance, unity and freedom not to be able to enjoy MY mountain view. As a native Coloradan I find the imposition of any particular sect marring what is a universal gift of nature an outrage. How can this be legal?
May 4, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Why do you think it is YOUR mountain view? None of us owns it. Who are we as humans to think we are entitled to and deserve every little thing? We don’t!
Besides, if the cross was first lighted in 1964, was it done so before you were living in your condo in the city? If it bothers you so much, maybe you should move to the other side of the building and look at the city.
May 28, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Hey Cathy why don’t you cast your tolerant Capitol Hill eyes a little further to the right and look at the TV towers on Lookout Mountain. Both were there before you were probably born. Sorry nobody checked with you first. I liked Denver a lot better 45 years ago when you and 1,000,000 less people lived here. Far too many of those 1,000,000 people who live here now live under the illusion that the sun rises and sets just for them.
You’ve lived a pampered life and been sheltered from adversity. You don’t know what it is like to have your soul jolted. If you had truly been exposed to the difficulty that matures us you wouldn’t pretentiously bitch about YOUR mountain view being spoiled. I watched my brother die in a Denver hospital after a1/4 of his head was caved in. That kind of ruined my view of him.
When I look at Mt. Lindo with my native eyes, I think of him. That is where I took his ashes.
June 9, 2008 at 11:00 am
What a way to ruin nature and force that hideous eyesore on people of all religions or even no religion.