Historic Cemetery

Mount Auburn Cemetery

a.k.a. Opportunity Park

00000225250000000, Dallas, Texas 75223
Location: Driving Directions:From S. Malcolm X Blvd, go 0.3 mile northeast on Pine St. Turn left at Electra St. and go till it intersects with Spring Ave. The cemetery is located immediately northwest of intersection, across the creek in Opportunity Park, on northeast side of Oakland Cemetery.This is a city pauper cemetery located directly behind and adjacent to Oakland Cemetery. The cemetery is now part of Opportunity Park, a community park. There are only a few grave markers in this cemetery. All, except for one, have been vandalized or are displaced. There is a well worn foot trail cutting trough the cemetery, connecting the community park with surrounding residential areas. There is also evidence of vagrant activity at the cemetery. The cemetery is maintained, but it is not fenced. There is no sign, and the cemetery is not a map feature. A creek forms the approximate southern boundary of the cemetery.

Source: RIP Fields Table

To address the problem of cemetery destruction and to record as many cemeteries as possible, the Texas Historical Commission offers the Historic Texas Cemetery designation.

The Historic Texas Cemetery designation was developed in 1998 to help protect historic cemeteries by recording cemetery boundaries in county deed records to alert present and future owners of land adjacent to the cemetery of its existence. Every county in Texas has at least one cemetery designated as a Historic Texas Cemetery through this program. The HTC designation is the first step toward preservation of a historic cemetery.

A cemetery is eligible for designation if it is at least 50 years old and is deemed worthy of recognition for its historical associations. The very nature of a cemetery being a landmark of a family’s or community’s presence is considered to validate the criteria of historical associations. Any individual, organization, or agency may submit a request for designation.

gravesites