Cemetery Preservation

Historic cemeteries across Texas are threatened by development, uncontrolled vegetation, vandalism, and theft. Their survival is constantly threatened by expanding urban areas, removal of headstones, theft of objects, neglect, and lack of fences to keep cattle from toppling headstones. If not recorded and cared for, these reminders of early settlements could be lost forever. The Cemetery Preservation Program offers technical assistance and administers two services, the Historic Texas Cemetery (HTC) designation and the RIP (Record, Investigate, Protect) Guardian network, to assist concerned citizens and local and regional organizations with their cemetery preservation efforts.