Even though it’s a fairly young city, there are still a lot of historical sites in Portland like the Skidmore Fountain, the Old Town Chinatown, and the Old Church. 

However, people are often surprised that a cemetery is also included in this list. If you’re a history lover or just someone who loves Portland’s little quirks, you have to know about the Lone Fir Cemetery, one of our most treasured historic places. 

What is the Lone Fir Cemetery?

Lone Fir Cemetery is a historical cemetery in Portland. Among other things, it’s known for being the cemetery where all burials in the city were conducted for over 40 years. 

Aside from the remarkable number of headstones at the cemetery, there are also a lot of trees in the area, which is also one of the reasons why people go here to walk around. 

In fact, next to the Hoyt Arboretum, it’s the spot with the most trees in the city! There are about 700 trees here and 67 species. 

Additionally, there’s a huge amount of space – 30.5 acres to be exact. If you need a place to go for a walk or relax that’s accessible and has a lot of greenery, Lone Fir Cemetery is a good option. 

And yes, we know it sounds odd to go to a cemetery for a walk… but this is Portland. We like to keep weird, as our slogan goes.

Anyway, this cemetery is also where you can find the Pioneer Rose Garden. As the name suggests, it’s a garden with many different kinds of roses.

What is the history of Lone Fir Cemetery?

Lone Fir Cemetery was founded in 1855, but before that, it was a private property owned by J.B. Stephens. Stephens’s father, Emmor, was buried on the property in 1846.

In 1854, J.B. sold the property to a local businessman named Colburn Barrell who had lost his best friend and his business partner in the same year. (A bit of Trivia: Barrell’s friend died because of the steamship Gazelle explosion.) 

Barrell ended up burying his friend on the plot and named the place Mt. Crawford, in his friend’s honor. When a group of local families bought the land from Barrell in 1866, the name was then changed to Lone Fir due to one lonely but prominent fir on the property. 

How do I get to the Lone Fir Cemetery? 

If you’re going to the Lone Fir Cemetery by bus, you can hop on the TriMet bus 15. If you’re bringing your car with you, enter on Southeast 26th avenue right in the middle of Stark and Morrison streets. 

Fortunately, it’s in the middle of a residential neighborhood and not really hard to find. 

When is a good time to go to the Lone Fir Cemetery? 

A good time to go to the Lone Fir Cemetery is anytime there’s still daylight on any day of the week. There are usually not a lot of people around, so you don’t have to worry about scheduling your visit on a time or day when it’s less crowded. 

We found that going even during the weekday is quite peaceful unlike other parks or gardens in the city. We recommend going during the day, so it doesn’t feel so spooky! 

It is, after all, still a cemetery. 

Who does the maintenance for Lone Fir Cemetery?

The Friends of Lone Fir Cemetery are the ones who do the maintenance work for the area. They are a group of volunteers who started way back in 2000. 

There was a rise in vandalism at that time and some people wanted to avoid that so that the city of Portland stays clean and beautiful. They formed the Friends of Lone Fir Cemetery group, as a result.

Today, they look after the headstones, protect the greenery surrounding the cemetery, and continue to tell the story of Lone Fir. 

What other facts should I know about the Lone Fir Cemetery?

Here are some other facts worth knowing about Lone Fir Cemetery:

• Birdwatchers love the place. You might be able to spot over 90 kinds of bird species here. 
• The fir from which the cemetery got its name still stands. It is recognized by the Pioneer Rose Association, the Heritage Trees of Portland, and the Portland City Council. 
• The cemetery is also the city’s second largest arboretum. 
• If you want to do ghost hunting or paranormal investigation in the cemetery, the city actually allows it. That is if you have the right permits, of course. 

We hope this list of facts about Portland’s historical cemetery enticed you to give it a visit. Have you been here yourself? Let us know how you liked it!