Historic Texas Cemetery Designation

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Texas cemeteries hold the story of our past - who we are, where we came from, and how we got here. Visiting a cemetery helps us stay connected with our ancestors, ethnic heritage and religious beliefs. As our communities grow – Texas cemeteries deserve to be protected and cared for by newer generations of descendants and volunteers.

Since 1998, the Historic Texas Cemetery (HTC) designation has helped protect cemeteries against threats by officially documenting their locations and legal boundaries. Each county in Texas has at least one designated HTC, this includes public city cemeteries, private family cemeteries, and African American/Mexican American community cemeteries. Applying for an HTC designation goes a long way, as many cemeteries will go through deed research and GIS mapping for the first time as part of the process.

In 2025, the Texas Legislature established the Historic Texas Freedmen's Cemetery (HTFC) designation. The new program recognizes African American cemeteries and segregated cemetery sections associated with freedom colonies and the Emancipation experience in Texas. To be eligible for the HTFC designation, a cemetery must contain the grave of at least one formerly enslaved person. The HTFC application form and how-to guide will be available for download on the Cemetery Preservation Program’s homepage starting in Summer 2026.

By participating in the Historic Texas Cemetery (HTC) program, you can give your community or family cemetery the official recognition it deserves.

Benefits of designation:

• Helps raise awareness of a cemetery’s existence in rapidly developing areas.
• Accurately records cemetery location and boundaries in county records and on online maps using GIS.
• Increases attention from local media and state historic preservation organizations.
• Completes the first step needed to apply for an Official Texas Historical Marker for the cemetery.

Apply for HTC Designation

The HTC Request for Designation materials are available as Word documents or as PDFs. Please read the Guidelines & Instructions before completing the application form to learn what additional documentation is required. Also consider viewing the "how-to-apply" webinar.

• 2026 HTC Designation Guidelines & Instructions
• 2026 HTC Designation Application (PDF)
• 2026 HTC Designation Application (Word)
• 2026 HTFC Designation Application (Word)

Please note: Current processing times for incoming HTC applications is approximately five months.

Remember that the HTC designation process does not automatically result in a historical marker. Markers are optional and are available only through a separate application process. Learn more about how to apply for a historical marker and the types of markers available. All steps of the designation process must be complete before submitting an application for the marker.