Carved In Stone
What makes a Texas cemetery historic? Simple. Any cemetery 50 years or older that landmarks the presence of a family or community qualifies. Cemeteries across Texas do just that, memorializing our ancestors and marking time's progress forward in granite, commemorative prose, and bones.
Cemeteries interweave the sentimental with the analytical, recording expressions of culture, adoration, and affection alongside historical data like dates, religious alliances, social and military affiliations, and family connections. In fact, some cemeteries serve as the only remaining record of places that no longer exist.
Cemeteries tell dramatic stories of historical settlement, disease, natural disasters and war. They can also be places of a different kind of rest, where shade trees mingle with artful sculptures in stone and colorful wildflowers blanket the ground. The Texas Historical Commission is aware of about 14,000 cemeteries in Texas, and this number continues to rise. Texans can check out all the documented cemeteries to date in any county by searching the Texas Historical Commission website or try scouting them out in person. We might finally discover where they put our Great Uncle Ebenezer.
Mountain Trail Region
Terlingua Cemetery
FM170 & Terlingua Ghost Town Road Terlingua, TX 79852 (432) 371-2234 Website
Mountain Trail Region
Concordia Cemetery
3700 E Yandell Drive El Paso, TX 79903 (915) 842-8200 Website
Independence Trail Region
Matagorda Cemetery
South Gulf and Matagorda Cemetery Road Matagorda, TX 77457 Website
Independence Trail Region
Glendale Cemetery
8315 E. Magnolia St. Houston, TX 77012 (281) 288-7888 Website
Plains Trail Region
Panhandle Cemetery
6th Street at Providence Avenue Panhandle, TX 79068 (806) 537-3517 Website
Plains Trail Region
Resthaven Cemetery
Ranch Road 599 and Texas 86 2 miles East of Quitaque Briscoe, TX 79255 (806) 455-1456
Hill Country Trail Region
Texas State Cemetery
909 Navasota Street Austin, TX 78702 (512) 463-0605 Website
Plains Trail Region
Crosbyton Cemetery
From Crosbyton, take US 82, 1 mile East Crosbyton, TX 79322 Website
Independence Trail Region
Washington Cemetery
2911 Washington Ave. Houston, TX 77007 (713) 864-7886 Website
Independence Trail Region
Houston National Cemetery
10410 Veterans Memorial Drive Houston, TX 77038 (281) 447-8686 Website
Plains Trail Region
Boot Hill Cemetery
US 385 south of Channing Cal Farley's Boys Ranch Boys Ranch, TX 79101 800-687-3722 or 806-372-2341 Website
Independence Trail Region
Columbus City Cemetery
U.S. 90 between Rampart and Legion Sts. Columbus, TX 78934 Website
Tropical Trail Region
Old City Cemetery (Brownsville)
600 E. Jackson Brownsville, TX 78520 (956) 541-5560 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
San Antonio National Cemetery
517 Paso Hondo Street San Antonio, TX 78202 (210) 820-3891 Website
Pecos Trail Region
Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery
Hwy 3348 3.1 miles south of Brackettville Brackettville, TX 78832 Website
Independence Trail Region
Gulf Prairie Presbyterian Church & Cemetery
231 Gulf Prairie Road. Jones Creek, TX 77541 (979) 233-2464 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 820-3891 Website
Lakes Trail Region
Greenwood Cemetery and Memorial Park
3100 White Settlement Road Fort Worth, TX 76107 (817) 336-0584 Website
Tropical Trail Region
Immaculate Conception Cathedral and Cemetery
1218 E. Jefferson St. Brownsville, TX 78520 (956) 546-3178 Website
Mountain Trail Region
Buffalo Soldier Memorial at Concordia Cemetery
3700 E Yandell Drive El Paso, TX 79903 (915) 842-8200 Website
Brazos Trail Region
The Old Rock Church/Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and Cemetery
152 County Road 4145 Cranfills Gap, TX 76634 (254) 675-3962 Website