HISTORIC CEMETERIES - The City and Borough of Juneau

Based.onthe information provided by theinventory and survey.of the DouglasCemeteries, it •. appears the cemeteries maybe considered for nomination to theNati~~ltegister under Criterion A and D.~types of properties, includingcemeteries, do not qualify for the NationalRegisterunless they meet specialconditions. These conditions are referredto as Criteria Considerations. CriteriaConsideration A states; "A religiousproperty is eligible if it derives its primarysignificance from architectural or artisticdistinction or historical importance."Criteria Consideration D states; "Acemetery is eligible if it derives its primarysignificance from graves of persons oftranscendent importance, from age, fromdistinctive design features, or fromassociation with historic events."Family Plot Fence Post, Douglas Cemeteries, 1995eBJ CollectionPhotograph byRenee HughesThe Douglas cemeteries appear to meet theintent of Criteria A and D. They wereassociated with events and activities duringthe early development of the communitiesof Treadwell and Douglas. They were theresult of a conscientious plan to developthe City Cemetery group and the CatholicCemetery group in a concentrated area at,what was then, the outskirts of thedeveloped towns.The cemeteries are an important part of the culture as the epitaphs on the markers can revealimportant genealogical information, which may have been lost in other records. Social,cultural, and statistical information can be gathered from inscriptions found on grave markers.Often a group of deaths from the same period or even the same date may be an indication ofan epidemic or tragic accident. A family plot marker may give some family history or eventsof personal nature about the family members.Further, the Douglas cemeteries appear to meet special Criteria Considerations A and D.Although some of the cemeteries are owned by religious or cultural groups, their significanceis primarily derived from their association with historic community development trendsrelating to the towns of Douglas and TreadwelLInventory and Survey ofHistoric Cemeteries in Douglas, Alaska Page 53