Oakwood Cemetery

Oakwood Cemetery is located at 1601 Navasota Street. In 1839, when Austin was favored to be the site for the capital of the Republic of Texas, a public cemetery was established. At the time, the cemetery was located just northeast of the original town plat borders. At first, the cemetery consisted of 10 acres of land now now known as the Old Grounds in Section 1. It was not until September 1, 1856, that the cemetery legally became part of the City of Austin. On that day, the Legislature of Texas transferred the cemetery from being state-owned to being city property.

Eventually, the cemetery grew to 40 acres divided into sections 1-4, that include two Jewish sections. The two Jewish sections of Oakwood have been owned and cared for by Temple Beth Israel since 1876. The earliest grave marker shown in historical records is from1840, although there is speculation that the earliest burial was in 1839. Oakwood Cemetery has over 22,000 burials of people of many races and ethnic backgrounds. Across the decades, the name has changed: in 1866 it was City Cemetery; 1903, Austin City Cemetery; 1912, Oakwood Cemetery. Here lie the mortal remains of many pioneers and builders of Austin, and their successors: among them national and state personalities; cabinet members, governors and other high state officials, mayors, business and professional leaders, and solid citizens from all walks of life. The Austin city government accepted responsibility for the permanent care of Oakwood Cemetery in 1970.