In contrast to this vision, throughout the western frontier, particularly during the earliest years of settlement, cemeteries started out as utilitarian burial grounds rooted in practical necessity more than lofty concepts such as beauty and solace. Often the earliest improvements were made by the families themselves or if they had the means, they hired someone. Colorado’s first garden cemetery, Riverside Cemetery, was incorporated in 1876 north of Denver. Landscape engineer Harvey C. Lowrie created a park-like setting with dense trees, lush grasses, a central rose garden, and meandering road system. Riverside Cemetery, and others that would follow in Colorado in the ensuing years, were similar to the eastern precedents in that the cemetery was located outside of the urban area and followed romantic styling. 8 Among Colorado settlements that grew into permanent towns and cities such as Boulder, many cemeteries evolved into larger, more sophisticated planned and landscaped park-like garden cemeteries that reflected the design ideals of garden cemeteries in the eastern states. For residents of Boulder, Columbia Cemetery became their community's version of the garden cemetery. It was located on the outskirts of town and offered visitors a panoramic view of the mountains and plains. Imitating the grid pattern of western settlements, the site was laid out with a linear pattern of burial sections and carriage roads, and was landscaped over time to create a park-like setting. In contrast to eastern cemeteries that relied on manipulating views by planting vegetation in strategic places, Columbia Cemetery, with its proximity to the Rocky Mountains to the west, did not need to fabricate a sense of exceptional beauty. The design was simple and functional. Often cared for with improvements made by family members themselves, the cemetery was inspired by the national trends, yet essentially utilitarian. 9 Associated Property Types Columbia Cemetery’s design is similar to multiple cemeteries built in the Front Range in the late nineteenth century. The design evolved throughout the period of significance and reflects a variety of American cemetery types. Its early character as a rural/homestead cemetery evolved into a garden cemetery typical of Victorian Era burial grounds characterized by a picturesque setting planned with trees, wide paths, decorative tombstones, and fences and gateways, such as seen at Mount Auburn and Riverside cemeteries. In the late 19th century, other cemeteries were created throughout the state’s growing municipalities, such as Denver's Fairmount Cemetery and Golden Cemetery, that integrated larger design trends of the garden cemetery movement and addressed the utilitarian and economic realities of local residents. Columbia Cemetery is one of the first garden cemeteries established in Colorado. It is representative of landscape architecture applied to a public cemetery that evolved over many decades. 10 Physical Characteristics and Integrity Columbia Cemetery is a public cemetery one mile southwest of downtown Boulder at the base of the Flatirons. The cemetery is organized by a rectilinear road system and a grid of grave plots. Mature trees and a wide variety of grave markers are interspersed throughout the cemetery. A stone gateway provides a formal entrance and an metal fence defines the edges of the cemetery. Two sheds are located along the cemetery’s western edge, one historic and another of more recent construction. An irrigation channel traverses the cemetery from west to east. Original features remain intact and the cemetery retains historic integrity in all aspects. Relationship to the National Register Criteria Columbia Cemetery is significant under National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) Criterion A and C for its collection of funerary art and association with the social history of Boulder as a final resting place for many of its citizenry. The cemetery is significant for the role it has played in the social and cultural life of Boulder since its founding. It has been the site of numerous internments, memorials, and commemorative events throughout its history. The cemetery expresses the cultural values of the City of Boulder and the citizens who developed and continue to care for this landscape. 8 “Riverside Cemetery Listing,” Colorado Preservation Inc, accessed October 7, 2022, http://coloradopreservation.org/programs/endangered-places/ endangered-places-archives/riverside-cemetery. 9 Hudson, “Columbia Cemetery,” Section 8, Page 9. 10 Sladek, "Golden Cemetery."
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Columbia Cemetery
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