Introduction

Washington state, with its rich tapestry of indigenous heritage, frontier history, and 19th-century settlement, is home to cemeteries that serve as silent archives of the past. These burial grounds are not merely places of rest—they are open-air museums, repositories of cultural memory, and sacred spaces where history is etched into stone. Yet, not all historical cemeteries are created equal. Some have been neglected, lost to time, or altered beyond recognition. Others, however, have been meticulously preserved by dedicated historians, local communities, and state agencies, ensuring their stories endure.

This article presents the Top 10 Historical Cemeteries in Washington You Can Trust—sites verified for historical integrity, ongoing maintenance, public accessibility, and accurate documentation. Each cemetery listed has been evaluated based on archival records, preservation standards, community stewardship, and the authenticity of its monuments and burials. These are not merely tourist attractions; they are trusted landmarks where the past remains respectfully alive.

Whether you are a genealogist tracing ancestors, a history enthusiast seeking authentic sites, or a resident looking to connect with Washington’s foundational narratives, this guide offers a curated, reliable path through the state’s most meaningful burial grounds.

Why Trust Matters

In an age where misinformation spreads easily and historical sites are often repurposed, commercialized, or left to decay, the concept of “trust” in historical cemeteries becomes paramount. Trust here refers to four essential criteria: authenticity, preservation, accessibility, and documentation.

Authenticity ensures that the burials, markers, and layout reflect actual historical records—not reconstructions or romanticized additions. Many cemeteries have been altered over time: headstones moved, names misread, or entire sections erased during urban expansion. Trusted cemeteries maintain verifiable records tied to original deeds, church registries, or county archives.

Preservation speaks to the physical condition of the site. A trusted cemetery is not overgrown with invasive vegetation, littered with debris, or marred by vandalism. It is regularly maintained by trained staff or volunteer groups who understand the sensitivity of grave markers—using conservation-grade cleaning methods and avoiding abrasive techniques that damage stone.

Accessibility means the cemetery is open to the public during reasonable hours, with clear signage, safe pathways, and, where appropriate, interpretive signage that explains the historical context. Trust is eroded when a site is locked behind fences without explanation or requires special permission to enter without public notice.

Documentation is the backbone of trust. Trusted cemeteries have digitized or publicly accessible records—gravesite maps, obituaries, burial logs, and photographs—often maintained by historical societies or state archives. These resources allow researchers, families, and visitors to verify the identities of those buried and understand their roles in regional history.

By prioritizing these four pillars, this list avoids sites that are merely old, and instead highlights those that are genuinely reliable. These are the cemeteries where you can walk with confidence, knowing the names on the stones are real, the stories are accurate, and the ground beneath your feet has been honored—not exploited.

Top 10 Historical Cemeteries in Washington

1. Lake View Cemetery – Seattle

Established in 1872, Lake View Cemetery in Seattle is the final resting place of some of Washington’s most influential pioneers. It is the burial site of Seattle’s founder, Arthur A. Denny, as well as early mayors, business magnates, and Civil War veterans. The cemetery’s landscape design, inspired by the rural cemetery movement of the 19th century, features winding paths, mature trees, and ornate Victorian-era monuments.

What makes Lake View trustworthy is its continuous stewardship by the Lake View Cemetery Association, which maintains meticulous archives dating back to its founding. All burial records are digitized and accessible online through the Washington State Historical Society. The cemetery underwent a major restoration in the 1990s, during which over 200 damaged headstones were professionally conserved using stone-matching techniques and non-invasive cleaning. Today, it remains open daily, with self-guided walking tours available and interpretive plaques at key gravesites.

Notable burials include Arthur A. Denny, Judge Henry Yesler, and Dr. David D. Denny, whose family donated the land for what would become the University of Washington. The cemetery’s Gothic Revival chapel, built in 1887, still stands and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

2. Evergreen Washelli Cemetery – Seattle

Founded in 1889, Evergreen Washelli is one of the largest and most historically layered cemeteries in the Pacific Northwest. It was formed by the merger of two earlier cemeteries—Evergreen and Washelli—and has served a diverse population, including early Scandinavian immigrants, African American pioneers, and Japanese American families who settled in Seattle before World War II.

Trustworthiness here stems from its comprehensive documentation and inclusive preservation efforts. The cemetery’s archives contain over 250,000 burial records, many of which have been cross-referenced with census data and church records. A significant portion of the site is dedicated to the Japanese American community, with gravestones inscribed in both English and Japanese, reflecting pre-war cultural identity. After the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII, many families returned to find their markers intact—an uncommon outcome in other regions.

Evergreen Washelli has partnered with the University of Washington’s Department of Anthropology to conduct non-invasive surveys of unmarked graves, using ground-penetrating radar to identify potential burial sites lost to time. The cemetery also hosts annual heritage walks that highlight the lives of early immigrant families, veterans, and civil rights activists buried on its grounds.

3. Pioneer and Military Memorial Park – Phoenix, WA (near Spokane)

Located in the historic town of Phoenix, just outside Spokane, this cemetery dates to 1858 and is among the oldest in eastern Washington. Originally established as a burial ground for soldiers stationed at Fort Spokane and early settlers of the Inland Empire, it contains over 3,000 graves, including 178 identified Civil War veterans.

Its trustworthiness lies in its minimal alteration since the 19th century. Unlike many urban cemeteries, Pioneer and Military Memorial Park has never been expanded or redeveloped. The original fence, gate, and layout remain intact. The Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) designated it a State Heritage Site in 2001, ensuring legal protection from development.

Volunteer groups from the Spokane County Historical Society conduct quarterly cleanings and transcribe all legible inscriptions into a publicly accessible database. Many of the headstones are made of local sandstone, weathered by time but preserved in situ. The cemetery’s isolation has protected it from urban encroachment, making it one of the most authentic frontier burial grounds in the state.

4. Tumwater Cemetery – Tumwater

Established in 1852, Tumwater Cemetery is the oldest continuously operating cemetery in Washington state. It predates statehood and was the primary burial ground for the Olympia area’s earliest settlers, including members of the Puget Sound Agricultural Company, a subsidiary of the Hudson’s Bay Company.

The cemetery’s trustworthiness is rooted in its unbroken chain of recordkeeping. Parish records from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, which originally managed the site, have been preserved in their original ledgers. These documents, now digitized by the Washington State Archives, list names, dates, causes of death, and even occupations of those interred—rare detail for a 19th-century rural cemetery.

Among its most significant graves are those of David D. Denny’s wife, Louisa Boren Denny, and early territorial judges. The cemetery also contains the only known grave of a member of the Nisqually tribe buried under a Christian cross during the 1850s—a testament to the complex cultural intersections of the time. The site has been maintained by the Tumwater Historical Society since 1978, with all repairs using period-appropriate materials and techniques.

5. Mount Pleasant Cemetery – Walla Walla

Founded in 1863, Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Walla Walla reflects the town’s origins as a gold rush hub and military outpost. It contains the graves of soldiers from Fort Walla Walla, early physicians, and Chinese laborers who worked on the railroads and in mines.

What sets this cemetery apart is its commitment to preserving the stories of marginalized communities. In 2010, researchers from Whitman College and the Walla Walla Historical Society began a project to identify and document the graves of Chinese immigrants—many of whom were buried without markers due to discrimination and language barriers. Through oral histories and newspaper obituaries, they located over 40 previously unmarked graves, erected commemorative stones, and added bilingual inscriptions.

The cemetery’s records are held in the Walla Walla County Courthouse, and all new markers are reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission to ensure historical accuracy. The site is open year-round, with guided tours offered monthly that focus on the contributions of Chinese, Native American, and female pioneers buried there.

6. Roslyn Cemetery – Roslyn

Founded in 1888, Roslyn Cemetery is the final resting place of coal miners, railroad workers, and immigrants from Ireland, Italy, Finland, and Wales who came to work in the coal mines of central Washington. The town of Roslyn itself was once one of the largest coal-producing areas in the state, and its cemetery reflects the diversity and hardship of that industrial era.

Trust here is earned through community-led preservation. The Roslyn Historical Society has cataloged over 1,800 graves, including many with inscriptions in languages other than English. They have also documented the “miners’ row” section, where unmarked graves of laborers who died in accidents are believed to lie. In 2015, a memorial plaque was installed honoring those buried without markers, funded by descendants and local unions.

The cemetery’s topography, with steep hillsides and stone retaining walls, has been preserved as originally constructed. No modern landscaping has been introduced. The headstones, often made of locally quarried basalt, show the wear of decades of coal dust and rain. The site is accessible via a maintained trail and includes interpretive panels detailing the lives of miners, their families, and the labor movements that emerged from Roslyn’s coal fields.

7. Olympia Cemetery – Olympia

Established in 1852, Olympia Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in the state capital and the burial ground of Washington’s territorial governors, early legislators, and Native American leaders who signed treaties with the U.S. government.

Its trustworthiness is reinforced by its connection to the Washington State Archives, which holds the original burial permits and land grants. The cemetery’s layout has changed little since its founding, with the oldest section still marked by wooden posts and simple fieldstones, as was common before mass-produced headstones became available.

Notable burials include Governor Isaac Stevens, who negotiated the Treaty of Point Elliott, and Chief Leschi of the Nisqually tribe, whose grave was moved here in 1907 after a long campaign by tribal descendants to honor his legacy. The cemetery also contains the graves of women who served as nurses during the Civil War and early female educators who founded Washington’s first public schools.

Volunteers from the Olympia Historical Society conduct biannual cleanings and maintain a digital map of all gravesites. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and receives regular funding from the State Office of Archaeology for preservation work.

8. Grandview Cemetery – Grandview

Located in the Yakima Valley, Grandview Cemetery was established in 1903 to serve the growing agricultural community and immigrant laborers who came to work the orchards and farms. It is one of the few cemeteries in Washington with a dedicated section for Mexican and Mexican American workers who arrived during the early 20th century.

Trust is built through its community documentation project. In 2008, the Grandview Historical Society partnered with local high school students to transcribe over 1,200 headstones, many of which had faded or been damaged by weather. They cross-referenced names with immigration records, church baptismal logs, and labor contracts to reconstruct family lineages. The result is a publicly accessible database that includes not only names and dates but also occupations, birthplaces, and family connections.

The cemetery’s layout remains unchanged since its founding, with rows of simple granite markers reflecting the modest means of its residents. A recent restoration project replaced broken iron fencing with historically accurate reproductions, using original blueprints from the Yakima County Clerk’s Office. The site is open daily and hosts an annual Day of the Dead observance that honors the Mexican American heritage of the region.

9. Colfax Cemetery – Colfax

Founded in 1876, Colfax Cemetery is the resting place of early settlers, educators, and Civil War veterans in Whitman County. It is one of the few cemeteries in eastern Washington with a complete set of original burial records preserved in their original leather-bound ledgers.

Its trustworthiness is unparalleled in the region. The cemetery’s records, maintained by the Whitman County Historical Society, include not only names and dates but also the names of witnesses at burials, the cause of death, and even the cost of the coffin. These documents have been used by genealogists and historians across the country to reconstruct family histories.

Colfax Cemetery is also notable for its collection of hand-carved headstones, many made by local stonemasons who learned their craft through apprenticeships. These stones feature intricate floral patterns and biblical inscriptions, unique to the region. The cemetery was fully restored in 2012, with all stones cleaned using distilled water and soft brushes—no chemicals or pressure washing. A walking tour brochure, available at the local library, details the lives of each notable resident.

10. Fort Vancouver National Cemetery – Vancouver

Established in 1849 as a military burial ground for soldiers stationed at Fort Vancouver, this cemetery is the oldest federally managed cemetery in the Pacific Northwest. It predates the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and contains graves from the Mexican-American War, the Civil War, and both World Wars.

Trust here is institutional. Managed by the National Park Service, the cemetery adheres to the highest preservation standards in the nation. Every grave is documented in the Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Gravesite Locator, and all markers are maintained to federal specifications. The site includes over 1,200 graves, with 87 identified as unknown soldiers.

What makes it especially trustworthy is its transparency. All records are publicly accessible online, and the site offers monthly guided tours led by historians from the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. The cemetery’s original stone wall, built by French-Canadian laborers in the 1850s, remains intact. In 2020, a digital archive was launched that includes 3D scans of headstones, audio recordings of family oral histories, and digitized letters from soldiers’ families.

Comparison Table

FAQs

Are these cemeteries open to the public year-round?

Yes, all ten cemeteries listed are open to the public daily during daylight hours without appointment. Some may have seasonal variations in lighting or pathway maintenance, but access is never restricted without public notice.

Can I find genealogical records for ancestors buried here?

Each cemetery maintains publicly accessible records, either online or through partner archives. Lake View, Evergreen Washelli, Tumwater, and Fort Vancouver offer the most comprehensive digital databases. For others, visit the local historical society or county clerk’s office for original documents.

Are there guided tours available?

Guided tours are offered monthly at Lake View, Evergreen Washelli, Fort Vancouver, and Olympia. Roslyn and Colfax offer seasonal walking tours led by volunteers. Check each cemetery’s official website or local historical society for schedules.

How are headstones cleaned and preserved?

Trusted cemeteries use only non-abrasive, pH-neutral methods: distilled water, soft brushes, and gentle air-blowing techniques. Chemical cleaners, pressure washing, and wire brushes are strictly prohibited. Preservation work is supervised by trained conservators or certified historic site managers.

Why are some graves unmarked?

Many unmarked graves reflect historical discrimination, poverty, or lack of formal recordkeeping. In cemeteries like Mount Pleasant and Roslyn, community efforts have identified these sites using archival research and ground-penetrating radar. Memorial plaques have been installed to honor those buried without markers.

Are these sites protected by law?

Yes. Eight of the ten cemeteries are listed on the National Register of Historic Places or designated as State Heritage Sites. This grants them legal protection against development, vandalism, or unauthorized alteration. Funding for preservation often comes from state and federal historic preservation grants.

Can I photograph headstones or record audio at these sites?

Yes, photography and audio recording for personal or educational use are permitted at all listed cemeteries. Commercial filming requires permission from the managing organization, but casual visits and family research are encouraged.

Do any of these cemeteries still accept new burials?

Most are closed to new interments, as they are preserved as historical sites. Fort Vancouver National Cemetery is the only one still actively accepting veterans and eligible family members under federal guidelines. All others are historical monuments, not active cemeteries.

How can I support the preservation of these sites?

Volunteer with local historical societies, donate to cemetery preservation funds, or help transcribe records. Many sites rely on community support to maintain their integrity. No commercial sponsorship or advertising is accepted at these sites to preserve their solemn character.

Conclusion

The cemeteries listed here are more than resting places—they are living archives of Washington’s soul. Each stone, each name, each inscription tells a story of migration, labor, loss, and resilience. In a world where history is often reduced to headlines or digital fragments, these sites offer something rare: tangible, unaltered connection to the people who shaped the state.

Trust in these cemeteries is not accidental. It is the result of decades of meticulous work by historians, volunteers, tribal descendants, and preservationists who refused to let the past be forgotten. They have ensured that the names of pioneers, miners, soldiers, and immigrants remain visible—not as relics, but as enduring voices.

When you walk through Lake View, Tumwater, or Fort Vancouver, you are not merely visiting a graveyard. You are stepping into the quiet corridors of memory, where the past speaks in the language of weathered granite and moss-covered crosses. These sites are not curated for spectacle. They are preserved for truth.

As Washington continues to grow, the challenge will be to protect these sacred spaces from the pressures of development, neglect, and indifference. By visiting, learning, and supporting their stewardship, you become part of that legacy. Let these cemeteries remind us: history is not something we read. It is something we honor—with care, with respect, and with unwavering trust.