Here are 10 tips for preserving historic cemeteries and burial grounds….Sign up for email updates Email Address

1. Pursue historic site designation.
2. Arrange for training and technical assistance.
3. Create a map and conduct surveys.
4. Consider future uses.
5. Prioritize!
6. Develop a maintenance plan.
7. Make it visitor-friendly.

the Texas Department of Banking
Chapter 712 of the Health and Safety Code governs the operation of perpetual care cemeteries, regulated by the Texas Department of Banking.

A cemetery conveys the history of the community in which it was built. Therefore, this community history can be used to connect people to that place. This concept is the same for most historic sites that discover that people will care about and steward those sites once this connection is developed.

Nonprofit corporations can establish, manage, maintain, improve, or operate a private cemetery, according to Section 711.021 of the Health and Safety Code. Property dedicated to cemetery purposes and used as a burial ground may not be sold in such a manner as to interfere with its use as a cemetery (State v.

Volunteers can undertake cleaning of grave markers once they have received initial training. Cleaning methods may include wetting the stone, using a mild chemical cleaner, gently agitating the surface with a soft bristle brush, and thoroughly rinsing the marker with clean water.

During the cleanups, cemetery staff removes and discards all items from graves. Groundskeepers are instructed to leave any permitted new seasonal decoration that appears to be newly placed and is in accordance with the current Cemetery Rules and Regulations.

Public parks don’t generally allow on-site grave digging. But according to the Texas health and safety code, a family or individual can declare their own cemetery on private land. So long as the land stays under 10 acres, it remains unregulated by the complex licensing rules of the funeral service commission.

in Historic Cemeteries. Cemeteries found across the country are not only places of burial, but they also provide a vivid record of community history. Whether large or small, well maintained or neglected, historic cemeteries are an important part of our cultural landscape.

Evaluate state or federal criteria. Generally, a cemetery qualifies for registration as a historic landmark if people are buried there who have transcendental historic importance, or if the cemetery itself is historically significant due to its age, design features, or association with historic events.

Burial laws differ from state to state. For most states, the answer is “Yes,” you can be buried on your property. Only three states have outlawed home burial. They are Indiana, California, and Washington.

But according to the Texas health and safety code, a family or individual can declare their own cemetery on private land. So long as the land stays under 10 acres, it remains unregulated by the complex licensing rules of the funeral service commission. A body must be buried at least two feet below the surface.