Historic Site

Founders Memorial Park Cemetery (Old City Cemetery)

	Founders Memorial Park Cemetery (Old City Cemetery) - Quick Facts
HSP Category	Cemetery
Period	Cemetery started in 1836.
HSP Style	Cemetery
Original Use	Cemetery
Present Use	Cemetery

Historical Significance:

Founders Memorial Park Cemetery, aka "Old City Cemetery" was established as the city of Houston's first cemetery in 1836 at the outskirts of the city limits on land donated by the Allen Brothers who founded Houston the same year. The majority of burials here occurred in the early 19th Century, the last one being in 1949. There were many mass burials and unmarked graves in the cemetery due to the recurring yellow fever and cholera epidemics. There is a conservative estimate of over 850 graves here. There are 28 Texas Centennial Monuments erected here for veterans of the battles in Texas fight for independence as well as dignitaries who served in the Republic of Texas. The first Masonic Funeral recorded in Texas was conducted here for Major Collingsworth in 1838.

Who is Buried Here:

There are 28 Texas Centennial Monuments erected here for veterans of the battles in Texas fight for independence from Mexico, dignitaries which served in the Republic of Texas, prominent Houston citizens, and many other Texas Pioneer families. John Kirby Allen, a founder of Houston, was buried there in 1838. Republic of Texas President Mirabeaux Lamar's mother, Rebecca Lamar is also buried there.

Form Submitted By: Texas Society Daughters of the American Revolution 02/20/2013

Designations:

State Historical Commission
City Landmark

Historic Marker:

Marker Organization: Texas Historical Survey Committee
Marker Date: 1968
Marker Text: Gravesite of Kirby Allen (1810-1838) Houston in 1836 was a humid swamp overgrown with sweet gum trees and coffee bean weeds. In this spot, however, two brothers from New York recognized the future "Commercial Emporium of Texas." John Kirby Allen was born and lived in New York until moving to Texas in 1832 with his older brother, Augustus Chapman Allen, a professor of mathematics. A natural leader with a magnetic personality, JK Allen was an astute business man as well. He and his brother soon saw that the area around Buffalo Bayou could readily become a major seaport. Immediately after the Battle of San Jacinto (April 21, 1836) JK Allen carefully chose the site of future Houston. On August 24 and 26 the brothers paid $9428 dollars for 6,642 acres of land originally granted by Mexico to James Austin, a pioneer colonist. Fittingly they named the town for Sam Houston, Leader of the Texas Army. In glowing words the Brothers advertised their infant town all over the United States and JK Allen who was soon elected representative to the Texas Congress worked unceasingly to make Houston the Capital of Texas, as it became 1837 to 1839. Jk died of congestive fever but the town he founded has since become Texas' largest city.

Funded By:

The Founder's Cemetery Association, other organizations, and the Texas Society Daughters of the American Revolution, helped to fund the cemetery and historic markers throughout the cemetery.

Information for the Visitors:

What you need to know if interested in visiting this destination:

Condition of Property: Preserve
Open to the Public? Yes
Public Hours: Daylight hours
Is it Family Friendly? Yes
Lodging? None
Brochure available? Yes
Catalog available? Yes

Select a State to Explore our Historic Properties

Units Overseas

Directions and application forms can be found on this page or in the Forms section of the DAR members' website.

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