In October 2024, the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation (LTHP) launched the Louisiana Register of Historic
Cemeteries, a public database to increase awareness of historic cemeteries for their protection, maintenance and
respect for those buried within them. One year later, the organization has registered nearly 300 historic cemeteries
throughout every parish of the state. A visual glossary with hundreds of photos and storymaps of notable individuals
provide a greater understanding of Louisiana cemeteries.
LTHP is asking the public to help locate historic cemeteries which may no longer be used or could be abandoned. The
database features over 8,000 cemeteries for which the name and location is known, but little else. Brian Davis,
executive director for the Louisiana Trust, says, “We’re asking folks to look on the map to see what cemeteries are
nearby and to share information and photos, especially cemeteries connected with their families. Identifying the
location of historic cemeteries is important for many reasons, from reuniting families with their relatives to preventing
costly change orders when cemeteries are discovered during construction.”
Nominations are taken from the general public through an online form. Information is gathered about the age, size,
boundary, and condition of burial grounds, as well as the types of markers and veteran burials from various wars. There
is no fee for nominating a cemetery to be certified in the Louisiana Register of Historic Cemeteries.
Certification on the Louisiana Register of Historic Cemeteries requires that at least one of these conditions exist:
Must be 50+ years since the first burial; and/or
Must contain the burial of a person of local, state or national importance by reason of civic, public, or military
service, cultural achievement or historical significance; and/or
Must contain structures that are considered architecturally significant.
To see which historic sites are in your area or to contribute information and photos about a historic cemetery, visit
https://historic-cemeteries.lthp.org/.
The Louisiana Trust is searching for the location of these cemeteries in Bossier Parish:
Cemetery Alternative Name Community
Bumgardner Cemetery
Burge Cemetery Bellevue
Burks Cemetery
Coates Cemetery Butler Cemetery; Yarborough Cemetery Benton
Gibson Cemetery Bellevue
Gilmer Family Cemetery Plain Dealing
Hamilton Cemetery Bellevue
John Burden Gravesite
Marks Plantation Cemetery Plain Dealing
Mt. Olive Church Cemetery McDade
Reynolds Cemetery
Rowzee Cemetery Benton
Salem Cemetery Plain Dealing
Young Plantation Cemetery Young Family Cemetery
The Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation was founded in 1979 with the mission to advocate, promote and preserve
historic places representing our diverse culture. It is the statewide historic preservation 501(c)3 non-profit organization,
working in all 64 parishes. For more information about the Louisiana Trust, their work and member benefits including
paint discounts, visit LTHP.org.