A mausoleum is a building that houses a tomb or tombs, usually for someone important or wealthy. Unlike regular graves in the ground, a mausoleum is an actual structure you can walk into, with walls, a roof, and often elaborate decorations.

You might see mausoleums in old cemeteries: stone buildings with heavy doors, sometimes featuring columns, statues, or stained glass windows. The Taj Mahal in India is perhaps the world's most famous mausoleum, built by an emperor for his beloved wife. Some mausoleums hold just one person, while others contain multiple family members across generations.

Modern mausoleums can be simpler structures, sometimes looking like small marble houses with plaques bearing names and dates. What makes a building a mausoleum rather than just a monument is that it actually contains the remains of the deceased, making it both a memorial and a final resting place.