The Historic Texas Cemetery designation program
by Barbara A. Ware
The Texas Historical Commission is a state agency whose mission is to “protect and preserve the state’s historic and prehistoric resources for the use, education, enjoyment, and economic benefit of present and future generations.”i One of its many programs is the identification and designation of historic Texas cemeteries.
The Historic Texas Cemetery designation program is designed to recognize family and community graveyards. The program does not restrict use of the cemetery or adjacent property. Anyone can apply for a designation by completing the application. The application is a comprehensive process documenting the cemetery, its history and current status. The Texas Historical Commission offers webinars to explain the process. The most current recorded webinar can be accessed here.
You will be asked to register to view the video. You can obtain a copy of the application here.
The Texas Historical Commission has a searchable atlas of historic sites which includes cemeteries, building, courthouses, historical markers, museums, and national registered properties.
The atlas is searchable by Texas county. The Texas Historical Commission has listed more than 2,200 Texas cemeteries with Historic Texas Cemetery designation in its online atlas. The atlas includes brief description and a map of the location of the cemetery.
The Texas Historic Cemetery (THC) designation and the Historical Marker are separate programs. At present there are 2,476 cemeteries with descriptive Historical Markers. 95 cemeteries in Dallas county have Historical Markers and 33 have THC designation only. 21 have both a THC designation and a historic marker. What is the difference? The Historical Marker program was the original way to identify many types of historical landmarks. It is the older program and more difficult to obtain. The THC program was started in 1998 to identify the historic value of family and community graveyards. In order to obtain a Historical Marker for a cemetery, Texas Historical Commission now requires obtaining the Texas Historic Cemetery designation first.
Other Fact Sheets and Links
- Texas Cemetery Laws
https://www.thc.texas.gov/preserve/preservation-programs/cemetery-preservation/cemetery-laws - Historic Texas Cemetery Designation
https://www.thc.texas.gov/public/upload/forms/factsheets/thc-historic-texas-cemeteries-factsheet.pdf
i Texas Historical Commission (https://www.thc.texas.gov/about : accessed 21 Jun 2021)
