Find, designate, and preserve historic cemeteries!
The Oregon historic cemeteries program, created by the Oregon legislature, provides resources including grants to people and organizations caring for the cemeteries.
Any cemetery that has at least one burial of a person who died before February 14, 1909 and is listed with Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries, is historic.
Historic cemetery designation signs are available. Contact the coordinator to get one.
Historic Cemeteries can also be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Additional Resources
Abandoned Cemetery Work Permit
Are you hoping to take care of a cemetery, but can't figure out who to ask for access? You will need to seek an owner first. Often
no one owns historic cemeteries. Determine ownership by contacting the
county land records office. The County offices are in charge of
maintaining records for property ownership and may have a process for
acquiring the property. Then if the cemetery meets the definition of abandoned under state law, you can get a permit to work in the cemetery.