Springdale Cemetary is city owned and accessible to the public. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is also a place where many use for jogging, hiking, and bike riding. The office is open from 8am-4:30pm Monday through Friday and closed weekends and holidays.

Springdale Cemetery has self guided brochures at the front office and also narrated trolley tours during the summer and fall. It definitely makes for an interesting day out with nice weather, and to see all the beautiful sights and stories behind them.

The Hallmark Murder

Springdale Cemetery is also the place where 19 year old Mildred Hallmark's nude body was found sprawled across a fallen tree in June 1935. Mildred died from a broken neck by a severe blow to the chin. She was the victim of a rape and homicide by 25 year old Gerald Thompson from Peoria Heights. On June 16, 1935, Mildred Hallmark was last seen boarding a street car in downtown Peoria, heading to her home at 1100 E. Maywood in Peoria, IL. It was later her body was found at the cemetery. Following the discovery, a large manhunt went down to find the killer. They brought in Gerald Thompson for questioning where he eventually confessed to the murder of Miss Hallmark. There were over 1,000 people outside the City Hall where the questioning took place, all waiting for answers. The police then found the discovery of Gerald's little black book that contained detailed documentation of the brutal rape of at least 16 women. Thompson, who worked at Caterpillar, was Peoria's first documented serial rapist and sentenced to death for the rape and murder of Mildred Hallmark. He died on October 15, 1935 after being strapped in an electric chair.