Many of the cemeteries have a map of the grounds, and it is recommended you visit their offices. In the shadow of the hillsides, in the hot prairie sun, in the cities and atop the mountains, Colorado's cemeteries provide a testament to the history of this great state. From border to border, century old cemeteries reveal the life and death of our Colorado pioneers. Their silent stones hold clues about early Colorado life, tragedy, disaster, hope and endurance. These cemeteries also serve as a treasure hold of past community and social structure.
Cemeteries seem to be the last resource for the historian, the curious and the genealogist.
For this is indeed where our history lies. The traditional cemetery is in doubt as more and more restrictions apply. Green lawns, flowers, and shrubs are being eliminated to conserve water, thus losing the park atmosphere our pioneers strove to achieve. Meanwhile monuments are more and more limited to flat markers, thus prohibiting artistic memorials, freedom of expression and a foundation of love and tribute honored to our dearly departed that has made the American cemetery so unique. The history of the pioneers buried in our Colorado cemeteries, as well as the cemeteries themselves, must be documented before they are lost to decay and neglect.