Cemetery Steward Program
Historic cemeteries are an incredible cultural resource and provide a vivid record of community history.
The City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation and Parks & Recreation Department have partnered to create the Cemetery Steward Program, which trains volunteers in hands-on cemetery conservation and documentation in the City’s Historic Eastside Cemeteries. Cemetery Stewards survey cemetery resources, complete conditions assessments, and clean cemetery monuments and markers.
Our Cemetery Steward Volunteer Program allows you to take an active role in the preservation and beautification of the Historic Eastside Cemeteries. Anyone ages 15 and older can apply.
As a volunteer, you will be trained in the following:
Proper documentation
Cleaning techniques
How to navigate our historic cemetery records
You will also assist with litter pick up, gardening, and research efforts.
Sign Up to Volunteer
To begin, you will need to watch a webinar on Video: Best Practices in Cemetery Conservation.
During this video, you will learn about the following:
The Historic Eastside Cemeteries
Headstone cleaning and repair
Common materials
What it means to be a Cemetery Steward
Once you've completed the webinar, you will need to attend a hands-on training.
Upcoming Trainings
Please note the program does not hold trainings/workdays in July and August
Saturday, September 19, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Saturday, October 10, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Registration is required. Please email Parks and Recreation to confirm your attendance.
Educational Sessions
Cemetery Research Day
Cemeteries act as living archives, museums, books, and outdoor classrooms. They preserve information about individuals, families, communities, and culture. The San Antonio Eastside Cemeteries Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places and a treasure trove of local, historical knowledge. Join us as we explore the types of information and databases that are available at the San Antonio Public Library. Come and learn best practices for cemetery research with Sylvia Reyna, Librarian II Archivist for Texana Genealogy Special Collections.
Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026
Timeframe: 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Location: San Antonio Central Library
Meeting location: Latino Collection Resource Center (LCRC), 1st floor
Parking: Park in the general parking garage at Central Library (free 3 hour parking with validation)
Address: 600 Soledad St., 78205
4th Annual Cemetery Steward Program Seminar
Save the date for Saturday, August 15th from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
This year’s seminar will focus on Ground Penetrating Radar!
Cemetery Steward Program Survey Map
Cemetery Stewards have been documenting markers in the Historic Eastside Cemeteries since 2022. View individual markers by clicking on the icons on the map below.
To search for specific names in the Historic Eastside Cemeteries, follow these steps:
Click on the magnifying glass icon in the lower right corner.
Click the dropdown arrow and select “Cemetery Steward Program Public View: Name Inscribed.”
Search the name in the text box.
Results matching the name will appear in a drop down menu.
Tips:
Select the Basemaps icon in the upper left corner. Choose a map style that you prefer. We recommend choosing “Imagery Hybrid” in order to see an aerial map of the cemeteries and the existing markers.
Select the Full Screen icon in the lower right corner (a box with arrows pointing to each corner), to expand the map and improve visibility and navigation.
Select any marker icon to view the survey data and photos for that resource.
*Please note: survey points may appear outside of the cemetery complex. This is due to connectivity issues during data collection. The Cemetery Steward Program does not survey outside of the bounds of the Historic Eastside Cemetery complex and the location of these markers will be adjusted for accuracy by OHP staff.
The Historic Eastside Cemeteries are also referred to as the Historic City Cemeteries and are designated in the National Register of Historic Places as the Old San Antonio City Cemeteries Historic District. The historic district is bound by Crockett Street on the north, Nevada Street on the south, New Braunfels Avenue on the east, and Pine Street on the west. The district is bisected by East Commerce Street.
For location information, take a look at the Historic City Cemeteries Map or visit The Cultural Landscape Foundation's entry for the Eastside Cemeteries.