Glendale Cemetery

Glendale Cemetery was established June 27, 1849, by the city’s founder William Holland. William and his wife, Jane, filed a quit claim deed for about a half-acre to be used as public burial grounds for use by the citizens of Washington. On the same day, David and Hannah Kyes also donated an adjacent piece of property for the same purpose...eventually expanding to include the Glendale Cemetery, also known as the Old City Cemetery. Glendale Cemetery is also the site for the city’s Veterans Memorial honoring troops that have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. It was erected by the American Legion and Auxiliary in memory of all deceased service men and women who have served their country. 

Today, Glendale Cemetery is a comforting location designed to honor life in a park-like setting situated among towering oak trees and expanses of prairie grass landscaping. This active city cemetery features modern above ground, cremation burial options, clean turf memorial options and traditional upright monument options near a community park and a nationally recognized historic landmark bridge.

Effective May 19, 2003, City personnel will perform all excavations for burials taking place at Glendale Cemetery. Concrete vaults must be used for full burial, however, such a vault is not required for burial in the infant section or for cremations.

The planting of trees, bushes, shrubs and other woody plants of any type is prohibited in Glendale Cemetery, except by authorized city personnel. This woody plant restriction applies to both the public areas of the cemetery and private burial plots. The city has a long-term landscaping and tree planting plan for the cemetery grounds and accepts cash donations to help defray planting and landscaping costs.

The planting of non-woody plants on private burial plots is permissible with the consent of the person or family holding the interment rights as well as approval from the Glendale Cemetery Sexton. Please contact cemetery personnel in advance of any planting. These planting policies are intended to avoid infringement on other public and private properties in the cemetery.

Decorative items such as artificial plants, statuaries, shepherd hooks, fencing, etc. must be confined to the designated 2 ft. x 4 ft. headstone area. Foot markers must not exceed 12" in height and must be confined to the designated 2 ft. x 4 ft. stone area. Structures other than monuments are not allowed on the grave site, i.e. benches, etc. City personnel reserve the right to remove any live greenery decoration that has subsequently turned brown, as well as any artificial decoration that is detached or in disrepair. Upright grave plantings and decorations are prohibited within the Glendale Cemetery Memorial section (denoted by flush head and foot stones)

The City of Washington cannot be held responsible for items lost, stolen, or damaged through acts of vandalism. Any maintenance needs related to monuments should be referred to a monument company.