Hamilton Cemetery is home to more than historic monuments and notable citizens. This unique tour explores the lawyers, judges, and legal figures whose names appear not only on headstones but also in court records. Along the way, it uncovers the cases, careers, and controversies that helped shape Hamilton’s history.
The cemetery has been collecting stories since 1847. Originally established as Burlington Heights Cemetery alongside two separate church burial grounds, the sites were consolidated by the city in 1892. Today, the 100-acre property contains roughly 21,500 graves, including those of 33 former mayors and the founder of the Fields Medal. Overlooking Dundurn Castle, the cemetery provides a fitting backdrop for a tour exploring Hamilton’s legal and criminal past.
Local historian Robin McKee has spent years sharing Hamilton’s history through cemetery tours, historical presentations, and the Cemetery Chronicles series. This edition focuses on legal history, courtroom drama, and the scandals that made a lasting impression on the city. Visitors can also expect stories of rum-runners, notorious criminals, murders, and unsolved mysteries that reveal another side of Hamilton’s history.
The tour is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., rain or shine, on October 4. No reservations are required—simply arrive at Hamilton Cemetery at 777 York Boulevard, across from Dundurn Castle, and join the group.
Additional Cemetery Chronicles tours take place on the second and fourth Sunday of each month at 10 a.m. from May through November.
Law & Crime Tour Details
- What: Cemetery Chronicles: Law & Crime Tour
- When: October 4, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Where: Hamilton Cemetery Gatehouse, 777 York Blvd., Hamilton (across from Dundurn Castle)
- Cost: Free admission
- Reservations: Not required; walk-ins welcome
- What to Expect: Stories of rum-runners, notorious criminals, murders, unsolved mysteries. The evolution of law and justice in Hamilton, told through the lives of people buried in the cemetery
- Guide: Led by knowledgeable historical interpreters as part of the Cemetery Chronicles series
- Good to Know: The tour runs rain or shine; comfortable walking shoes and water are recommended
