HistoricSiteMarkers
Reconstruction & Gilded Age

Old City Cemetery

Alvin, Brazoria County, Texas

Marker Inscription

First cemetery in Alvin. Acquired by city in 1892. Oldest legible inscription (1889) marks grave of pioneer and Civil War veteran G. W. Durant. Many early settlers are buried here, as are several victims of 1900 hurricane. Name changed to Oak Park in 1953. (1966)

Erected by Texas Historical Commission

The Story

This was Alvin's first cemetery, acquired by the city in 1892, its oldest legible stone dating to 1889 over the grave of pioneer and Civil War veteran G. W. Durant. Many of the town's earliest settlers rest here, along with several victims of the devastating 1900 hurricane. The burial ground was renamed Oak Park in 1953.

Why it matters

A pioneer cemetery like this preserves in stone the founding generation of a Texas town and the toll of the 1900 storm, the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history.

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Related people

  • · G. W. Durant

Related events

  • · 1900 Galveston hurricane

Themes & tags

Westward ExpansionFrontier HistoryMemorial

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