Boneyard Hill

Updated June 11, 2025

## Boneyard Hill, Davenport, Iowa: A Quiet Hilltop Cemetery with Local Character

Boneyard Hill is a small, historic cemetery on a low hill at 1997 E 14th St, Davenport, Iowa 52803, in the 52803 ZIP code on the east side of the city. Online directories list it as both a park and a landmark, but mapping and business data consistently describe it as a cemetery with gravestones and monuments rather than a developed city park with facilities.

It’s an extremely low-key stop: think local historic burial ground on a residential hill, not a large destination cemetery with tours or amenities. If you’re already exploring Davenport or the wider Quad Cities, it can be a brief, reflective detour rather than the main event in your day.

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## Where Exactly Is Boneyard Hill?

– Address: 1997 E 14th St, Davenport, IA 52803 of Commerce
– Coordinates: approximately 41.533856° N, –90.547931° W (from the data you provided)
– Setting: a residential neighborhood east–northeast of central Davenport. Downtown Davenport’s commonly referenced coordinates are about 41.5236° N, –90.5776° W, so Boneyard Hill sits roughly 1–2 miles to the east on higher ground.

Most major map apps recognize “Boneyard Hill, Davenport, IA” as a navigable destination, and MapQuest in particular has an entry describing it as a hillside cemetery with views over the surrounding area.

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## What Boneyard Hill Is (and Is Not)

### A Small Hilltop Cemetery

MapQuest and related mapping data describe Boneyard Hill as:

– A “serene and historic cemetery perched on a gentle summit”
– With gravestones and monuments
– Surrounded by greenery
– Offering a view over the surrounding neighborhood

That’s the most concrete public description available. There is no widely published information on:

– The number or age of graves
– Any notable individuals buried there
– Formal walking trails, benches, or interpretive signage

So anything beyond “small historic cemetery on a grassy hill with gravestones and some views” would be speculation.

### Not a Full-Service City Park

A business directory categorizes Boneyard Hill under “park” at the same E 14th Street address, but this appears to be a category label rather than a guarantee of playgrounds, restrooms, or picnic facilities. of Commerce

Given the available data, the safest, factual way to think about Boneyard Hill is:

> A neighborhood hilltop cemetery that some local listings group with parks and outdoor spaces, but without documented built amenities.

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## Planning a Visit: Practical, Reality-Based Tips

Because there’s very little official information published specifically about Boneyard Hill, it helps to approach it like any small local cemetery:

### 1. Access & Parking

– The site is located directly on E 14th St in a residential area. of Commerce
– Mapping apps can route you to the exact address; you’ll be able to see the slope of the hill and grave markers on satellite or street-level imagery in most tools.
– There is no clearly documented dedicated parking lot in public sources; expect to rely on normal neighborhood street parking if you visit, and follow posted signs. (That’s an inference about what is documented, not a claim about what physically exists.)

### 2. Hours & Rules

– I was not able to find any official posted hours, rules, or a city-operated page specifically for Boneyard Hill in Davenport’s current online parks listings.
– In the absence of clear information, the safest assumption is to treat it as an active or historic cemetery, not as an all-purpose hangout spot.

General cemetery etiquette — applicable here as well — includes:

– Keeping voices low and behavior respectful
– Avoiding climbing on monuments or gravestones
– Taking photos in a way that doesn’t mock or trivialize the people buried there
– Being mindful that family members may still visit

Those are norms rather than site-specific rules, but they matter for inclusivity and basic respect.

### 3. Accessibility

There is no detailed public information on:

– Paved vs. unpaved paths
– Step-free access
– Availability of seating
– Lighting at night

If accessibility is critical for you or anyone in your group, it’s wise to:

– Use recent satellite and street imagery to check slopes and surfaces
– Contact Davenport Parks & Recreation for the most current advice on small cemetery sites in the area, even if Boneyard Hill isn’t listed as a formal park facility.

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## How Boneyard Hill Fits into a Davenport Itinerary

### The City Context

Davenport is a Mississippi River city and the county seat of Scott County, forming part of the Quad Cities with neighboring communities in Iowa and Illinois. As of the 2020 U.S. census, Davenport had a population of 101,724, making it Iowa’s third-largest city after Des Moines and Cedar Rapids.

The city is known for:

– A riverfront downtown with the Davenport Skybridge, Modern Woodmen Park, and public events
– Cultural institutions like the Figge Art Museum and the Putnam Museum
– Several larger, fully developed parks such as Credit Island, Vander Veer Park, and Lindsay Park in the Village of East Davenport.

Compared with those big-name stops, Boneyard Hill is much quieter and more localized — the sort of place you’d add if you’re interested in everyday landscapes, small cemeteries, or gently elevated neighborhood viewpoints.

### Nearby & Referenced Attractions

Travel and hotel sites list Boneyard Hill as a reference point for accommodation searches, which confirms that it’s a recognized local landmark even if it’s not heavily promoted as a tourist site.

Within the broader Davenport / Quad Cities area, you can combine a quick stop at Boneyard Hill with:

– Davenport Skybridge – A pedestrian skybridge over River Drive with views of the Mississippi and downtown riverfront.
– Figge Art Museum – A major regional art museum in a modern riverfront building, housing the National Center for Midwest Art and Design.
– Village of East Davenport & Lindsay Park – A historic neighborhood with specialty shops and a park that once served as Civil War parade grounds; Lindsay Park offers river views and green space.
– B.J. and Mabel Palmer Mansion & Davenport Skybridge / Family Museum of Arts and Science, which appear in the same “nearby attractions” lists as Boneyard Hill on hotel meta-search pages.

These additional stops provide the “headline” experiences — museums, river views, and family attractions — while Boneyard Hill offers a small, contemplative counterpoint.

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## Visiting with Respect & Inclusivity in Mind

Because Boneyard Hill is a cemetery, it’s important to treat it primarily as a place of remembrance rather than as a backdrop for edgy photos or dark jokes. That’s especially relevant given the site’s name and some of the more offhand phrasing found in casual online reviews: it can be tempting to lean into the macabre, but real people are buried here.

A few inclusive, low-impact ways to experience the site:

– Use it as a short, reflective walk while you’re already in the neighborhood
– Pay attention to historic headstone styles and dates without photographing individual names in a way that feels intrusive
– Avoid assuming anything about the faith, ethnicity, or status of those buried there based solely on markers; Davenport has a long and diverse history, and cemeteries often reflect many overlapping stories.

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## About Data Freshness & What May Change

A few of the key facts above have specific timestamps or limitations:

– The population figure for Davenport (101,724) is from the 2020 U.S. census; newer estimates may be slightly higher or lower.
– The business-directory entry categorizing Boneyard Hill as a “park” includes a user review dated June 10, 2021, so that categorization and at least one review are several years old. Amenities, surroundings, or even the site’s condition may have changed since then. of Commerce
– MapQuest’s description of Boneyard Hill as a “serene and historic cemetery” is taken from current mapping data but may be automatically generated and not an official city statement.

Because of those factors, if you need up-to-the-minute details — for example, to confirm current maintenance, local regulations, or accessibility conditions — it’s worth:

– Checking the latest satellite and street imagery
– Looking at very recent online photos or reviews with dates
– Contacting Davenport city offices or Parks & Recreation before making special-purpose visits

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### Quick Summary

– What it is: A small, historic hilltop cemetery on E 14th St in Davenport, Iowa, sometimes categorized online as a park.
– Why go: A brief, quiet stop for those interested in cemeteries, local history landscapes, or offbeat Quad Cities landmarks — best combined with Davenport’s larger attractions.
– How to approach it: As a place of remembrance first, with standard cemetery etiquette, and with realistic expectations about the lack of documented amenities or tourist infrastructure.

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