Cenotaphs: Honoring the Fallen Across Time and Place
Kelley Barrett, Vegas Ancestor Hunter
In the broadest terms, a cenotaph—or “empty tomb”—is a memorial to a deceased person or group whose remains are located elsewhere. Those honored by such memorials may be buried in another location, lost at sea, or have an unknown final resting place. The cenotaph provides a place for loved ones and the public to pay respects, express grief, or honor the fallen.
A cenotaph is more than a memorial; it’s a profound symbol of remembrance. These solemn structures, often linked to war, conflict, or tragedy, can be found around the world — each a tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and memory of those commemorated.
Famous Cenotaphs Around the World
Some cenotaphs have become iconic symbols of national mourning and remembrance. Notable examples include:
1. The Cenotaph in Whitehall, London (United Kingdom)
Unveiled in 1920, this national war memorial honors British and Commonwealth soldiers who died in both World Wars. Located in central London, it is the focal point of annual Remembrance Sunday ceremonies. Its simple yet powerful design stands as a national symbol of sacrifice.
2. Cenotaph at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park (Japan)
This cenotaph honors victims of the 1945 atomic bombing. Shaped like an arch, the structure shelters the souls of the dead. An eternal flame burns nearby as a poignant reminder of the horrors of war.
3. The National September 11 Memorial, New York (United States)
Located at the former World Trade Center site, this memorial includes the names of 2,983 victims of the 2001 and 1993 terrorist attacks. Two reflecting pools mark the original Twin Towers’ footprints, symbolizing the void left in their wake.
4. Cenotaph of the First World War, Calgary (Canada)
Located in Memorial Park, this structure commemorates local soldiers who died in World War I. It is one of many across Canada reminding the public of war's personal cost.
5. Arc de Triomphe (France)
Though primarily a triumphal arch, the Arc de Triomphe in Paris also functions as a cenotaph. Beneath it lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, with an eternal flame that is rekindled daily.
The National September 11 Memorial, Source: Canva.com
Why Not Arlington’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?
You may wonder why the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, one of the most visited U.S. memorials, isn’t included here. This omission is not due to a lack of respect.
Though similar in purpose, not all war memorials are cenotaphs. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier contains actual remains from World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. As such, it is a symbolic grave, not a cenotaph. The Vietnam War remains once interred there were identified and reburied in 1998.
Beyond War Memorials
While cenotaphs are often war-related, they can also honor victims of disasters or individuals who died far from home. Examples include:
Victims of the Titanic
Defenders of the Alamo
Members of Congress who died in office
At Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C., 171 cenotaphs honor deceased members of Congress. These memorials are clearly marked and explained in the cemetery’s literature and signage.
Rows of cenotaphs at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC
Source: Library of Congress
Lesser-Known Cenotaphs: Hidden in Plain Sight
Cenotaphs are not limited to famous individuals or historic events. Countless cenotaphs honoring everyday people are found in cemeteries around the world. Here are four common reasons these cenotaphs exist:
1. Planned Cenotaphs
Sometimes, a cenotaph is intentionally erected near where the deceased lived, died, or has family. These often include notations indicating they are cenotaphs.
2. Unintended Cenotaphs Due to Separate Burial
Often, a headstone is prepared for two spouses when the first dies. If the surviving spouse is later buried elsewhere, the original marker—engraved with their name and birth date—becomes a de facto cenotaph.
A missing death date can be a clue. To confirm, researchers can consult obituaries, cemetery records, and death certificates.
3. Reinterment
Sometimes remains are relocated—whether due to family wishes, religious requirements, or repatriation. If the original headstone remains in place, it becomes a cenotaph by default.
4. Family Disagreements
In rare cases, one family member may purchase a plot and headstone, but another with legal authority arranges burial elsewhere.
The Unintended Cenotaph: A Real Example
To illustrate the confusion that unintended cenotaphs can cause, consider the Find a Grave® memorial for Stephen W Wood (FAG memorial # 11369226). Stephen and his wife Elizabeth were living in Pennsylvania when she died in 1886. Elizabeth was buried at the family plot located in Lenhart Cemetery in Warren County. Two of the couple’s children had previously been buried at that location. Elizabeth and the children each have a small secondary marker with their initials presumably identifying their exact burial location. Stephen’s name and birth year appear on the monument, however there is no year of death. There is also no small secondary marker with Stephen’s initials although it could have been lost, moved or destroyed.
Inscription on the memorial for S. W. and Elizabeth Wood at Lenhart Cemetery in Warren County, Pennsylvania. Photo by JNicholson. See Find a Grave® memorial for Elizabeth Wood (FAG memorial # 11369221).
When this memorial was added to Find a Grave® more than one hundred years after Stephen’s death (2005), the well-meaning contributor incorrectly assumed that Stephen was buried at the Pennsylvania site. The error is somewhat understandable given that Stephen’s initials and year of birth appear on the memorial.
Stephen lived for almost another 30 years after Elizabeth’s death. He and his sons Stephen and Charles left Pennsylvania and migrated across the country eventually settling in Washington State. While it may have been his original intent to be buried next to Elizabeth and his children in the family plot, Stephen’s body was not returned to Pennsylvania. Instead, he was buried with a very simple marker in Greenwood Memorial Park in Centralia, Washington (FAG memorial # 49948458).
A second memorial, this one for Stephen’s grave in Washington, was added to Find a Grave® in 2010. For the 15 years that followed, this memorial stood alone, without biographical information or links to Elizabeth or any of the couple’s children. The task of correctly identifying Stephen and linking him to his family didn’t begin until the Spring of 2025. Immediately, the problem of the earlier memorial (i.e., the unintended cenotaph) became apparent. Since its creation, numerous contributors had inadvertently linked Elizabeth and the majority of the couple’s children to the cenotaph. Having linked the two sons in Washington to their father’s 2010 memorial, when they were subsequently linked to their mother, all of their other siblings displayed as half siblings. This occurred because the system treated Stephen’s cenotaph and his memorial as two different fathers.
Correcting a problem such as this, on a website powered by volunteers, can take a lot of time and patience. A suggestion to change the father linked to a child must be initiated from the child’s memorial, it cannot be changed from the parent’s memorial. Due to the unusual nature of this type of request, it is best to accompany the request with an explanation. Some memorial managers will require additional proof. Some will engage in dialogue, others will simply deny the request without explanation. Some may even indicate that you have inaccurate information simply because it does not match the information they have. Find a Grave® has clear rules about handling cenotaphs, but volunteers do not receive any training. And then there are those particularly difficult memorial managers who prefer to make up their own rules as they go.
One thing that likely aided in the quick acceptance of the change by most memorial managers was the inclusion of a key piece of evidence, a photo of Stephen’s obituary, on the second memorial. The obituary clearly ties him to family in Pennsylvania and states where Stephen’s remains were to be buried. By a stroke of luck, the first memorial needed a new manager, and by taking control of it, the ability to identify it as a cenotaph was at this researcher’s fingertips. A few clicks and… done. At the time of writing, all but one of Stephen and Elizabeth’s children were correctly linked to Stephen’s second memorial. One son continues to appear as a half sibling. Don’t assume the worst though, memorial managers vary in responsiveness.
Listing for Stephen Wood’s cenotaph on Find a Grave®. Accessed 18 June 2025.
Conclusion
Cenotaphs—whether grand or modest—are powerful symbols of remembrance. They honor not only those named, but the values of sacrifice, peace, and unity.
As researchers, we have a responsibility to identify and clarify unintended cenotaphs. When possible, take steps to accurately update public memorial databases, such as Find a Grave®, to prevent future confusion.
Want to Find Cenotaphs Near You?
Try this:
Go to Find a Grave®
Locate your cemetery of interest.
On the cemetery’s profile page, select “More search options.”
Check the box labeled “Cenotaph” under “By Memorial Types.”
Click “Search this cemetery.”
No results? That likely means no memorials have been designated as cenotaphs—yet. Walk the grounds. Look for headstones with missing death dates. That might be the start of your own cenotaph discovery.
Know of a cenotaph that isn’t labeled as one?
Help future researchers—designate it properly. It only takes a few clicks, and your effort may bring clarity to generations of genealogists to come.
Find a Grave® is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ancestry®. Membership is free. To create a Find a Grave® member account, you must register with a valid email address.