A Study of La Plata County Rural Cemeteries

In 2014, the San Juan Mountains Association began a study to document twelve small rural La Plata County cemeteries. The project compiled historical information, data from past field observations, burial records, and mortuary data. Fieldwork was conducted to verify the presence and condition of grave markers and identify markers that have not been previously recorded. The condition of cemeteries and grave markers was assessed and recommendations made for additional documentation and the prioritization for treatment. The report assembles cemetery history, condition and burial data into one document. The information is available in print copy and electronic formats. The print project reports can be found at local libraries, the La Plata County Historical Society, the Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College and the San Juan Mountains Association. A copy of the report is also available at the State Historical Fund. The electronic version of the report is found here. One important goal of this project was to compile a list of burials for the project cemeteries. Using the information sources cited above, a searchable database has been assembled. We gratefully acknowledge the Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College for generously hosting this project’s database. Information about the cemetery database may be found here. Thank you for your interest in these rural cemeteries. Ruth E. Lambert, Ph.D. Cultural Program Director San Juan Mountains Association June 30, 2018