Mission
To record, preserve, maintain, and protect the historic cemeteries of Jacksonville, as well as increase public appreciation and awareness of the historical and cultural value cemeteries provide communities.
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Old City Cemetery
Interactive Map
Times-Union Articles
and
News Casts
Cemetery Recovery & Preservation Trust
of Jacksonville
Dedicated to restoring beauty and pride to Jacksonville's
historic cemeteries through preservation and education.
Old City Cemetery Project
This cemetery is 157 years old and holds the largest collection of headstones dating from before 1880. It was donated to the City in 1852 by Captain Charles Willey.
Even though the land did not officially become a cemetery until 1852, excavations of the site in the 1940's revealed a tombstone with 1827 as the date of interment. Further investigation yielded several skeletons with their heads in the north. It is more than likely that these burials were Native American.
The names on the headstones read like a list from Who's Who in early Jacksonville. Many 
distinguished families are buried in Old City Cemetery: Alderman, Arpen, Barnard, Boulter, Brock, Broward, Buffington, Cooper, Dancy, Davidson, DeWees, Doggett, Drew, Dzialynski, Fleming, Flotard, Hardee, Hart, Haynes, Hemming, Ledwith, L'Engle, Livingston, McLean, Oak, Parramore, Swart, Taylor, Turknett, Watson, Willard, Willey, and Zacharias.
In 1923, T. Hurd Kooker published a typewritten manuscript listing the burials in Old City Cemetery. Kooker referenced death records that had been compiled in 1887 and from 1893 to 1922.
In 1993, Mary-Louise Howard published a record of burials for the cemetery as well. She referenced Kooker's materials and her own genealogical research.
Both of the above reference books only list name, birth date, death date, and grave location. Up until now, there hasn't been a book which lists inscriptions or photographs or any details of the grave and headstone.
We are putting together a comprehensive collection of burials in Old City Cemetery. This publication will contain detailed information on every available burial in the cemetery, as well as photographs. We anticipate its completion in late 2008. In the meantime, please enjoy our interactive map of Old City Cemetery,
We are currently conducting a comprehensive survey of this cemetery after which we will begin the cleaning and repairing of headstones.
Volunteers are always welcome on site to lend a hand or two! Check out the for when we're out there.
A basic section and lot map is available for printing