Cemetery Headstone Grant Program

Since 2006 the Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission has allocated funds for the installation of cemetery markers on unmarked graves within the Deadwood's historic cemeteries. The purpose of this program is to assemble genealogical information on individuals and families interred at Mt. Moriah Cemetery and St. Ambrose Catholic Cemetery. Applicants are required to furnish information which can be scanned and placed in the records of the Deadwood City Archives.

STIPULATIONS OF THE HEADSTONE GRANT PROGRAM:

The program is designed for one name per cemetery monument. For any additional names, separate applications will need to be filled out and submitted separately to the Historic Preservation Office. Due to cost and significant amount of unmarked graves in the historic Deadwood cemeteries, burials which pre-date the year 1950 are eligible for the program. Nominations which post-date the year 1950 may be eligible under the review and recommendations of the Historic Preservation Commission. 

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Individuals who would like to participate in the Cemetery Headstone Grant Program are required to fill out the Cemetery Headstone application and submit supporting documentation on the nominee in the form of:

Birth certificate and/or birth announcement, or relevant document
Death certificate and/or obituary or relevant document
Copies of census records pertaining to the nominee for the years 1870 to 1930
Copies of family history pertaining to the deceased
Family tree
Copies of photographs showing the nominee and/or family
Other relevant documents which will aide in the interpretation of the nominee

All submitted applications will be reviewed by the Cemetery Committee, a subcommittee of the Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission. Depending on the completeness of the application, placement of the monument will take two to six months from submission of the application.  Successful applicants will receive a formal letter from the Deadwood Historic Preservation Office indicating the admission into the program.

STONE REQUIREMENTS:

Successful applications will be awarded one 16 inch tall by 16 inch wide wedge shaped headstone (See figure #1 for size). The inscription on the face of the monument will be limited to the following information:

Deceased name ( first name, middle initial, last name)
Birth year (four digit)
Death year (four digit)

The vital information of the nominee will be a sunken letter laid out in Roman Type font (see figure #2 for font size and layout). Any additions or modifications to the aforementioned layout will be at the applicant’s expense and may delay the progress of the grant.

The application is available below. For more information on Deadwood's cemeteries click HERE.