Historic Cemetery

Spanish Camposanto Cemetery

a.k.a. San Augustine Church, Iglesia San Agustín

Laredo, Texas
Location: Driving Directions:From IH 35 in Laredo, go 0.1 mile west on Houston St. Turn left at Flores St. and go 0.3 mile south to Grant St. Turn left at Grant St. and go one block east to San Augustine Ave. (Flores intersects with San Augustine Ave. and becomes Grant St.) St. Augustine church is located on east side of Laredo Plaza, at southeast corner of intersection of Grant St. and St. Augustine Blvd.This is reported to be the site of Laredo's first camposanto, which was founded in 1755 during the Spanish period. The cemetery has been heavily disturbed by urban development. However, early burials have been located in front of today's San Agustín Church (ca. 1866-1872), and archeological excavations in 1997-1998 revealed more that 90 burials inside the second church foundation perimeter. There is no evidence of a cemetery at this location today.

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