Historic Cemetery

Lopez Cemetery

Rio Grande City, Texas
Location: Driving Directions:From US 83 in Rio Grande City, go 0.1 mile north on Reynaldo Gomez Dr. Turn left at E. El Sauz St. and go 0.1 mile west. Cemetery is on hill, approx. 80 ft. north (right side) of road.The cemetery is fully fenced, maintained, and active. It is accessible to the public. It is not a map feature, and no cemetery signs are posted. The cemetery is threatened by significant erosion. The area surround the cemetery has been quarried extensively. The cemetery now sits on a small hill with very steep banks. The banks appear to be actively receding. Several grave markers are displaced, fallen, missing. Some markers show repairs, and some have been replaced.

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