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Welcome to Pioneers' Cemetery Association

RESEARCH - PRESERVE - EDUCATE
About Phoenix & Territorial Arizona History

The Mission of the Pioneers' Cemetery Association, Inc. is to conserve and protect the historic physical remains, grave markers, artifacts, and buildings of Pioneer & Military Memorial Park and provide a safe, accessible community resource for present and future generations; to acknowledge, celebrate, and promote Arizona's Pioneer History, represented by those interred in Arizona historic cemeteries, through research, education, conservation, preservation, and community engagement.

The Pioneers' Cemetery Association, Inc. is a non-profit organization with IRS 501(c)(3) status.

Our historic cemeteries are now open by appointment on Thursdays 10 AM - 2 PM for self-guided tours.
Volunteers will not be available every Thursday over the summer.
Please contact us at pioneercem@yahoo.com for arrangements.

Tours of Smurthwaite House are currently not available.
We thank you for your patience as we strive to provide a safe experience.

We look forward to seeing everyone as soon as we're able. We're behind the scenes working on creative ways to share Phoenix's history with you remotely, through this website, email, and social media options. Be sure to "like" us on Facebook and sign up for our occasional email news! If you have questions or suggestions of programs, projects, or topics of interest, please drop us a line at pioneercem@yahoo.com!

Memorial Day 2021

Our many thanks to our volunteers who took the time to honor our heroes who have gone before us by decorating their graves. Thanks to all who stopped by our historic cemeteries to pay their respects.

Pioneers' Cemetery Association offers our condolences to the family of Julian Reveles who died on May 2. Julian was for many years the Master of Ceremonies for our annual Memorial Day Event. A writer, public speaker and advocate, he was a strong supporter of Arizona history and culture. He will be missed.

Buffalo Soldier Plaque Dedication

A dedication of the Buffalo Solider Plaque at Porter Cemetery occurred on Memorial Day, presented by the Buffalo Soldiers of America, Arizona Chapter. Buffalo Soldier Clarence Proctor is buried in our cemeteries.

Thank You, Maricopa & Piestewa Peak DAR!

From Piestewa Peak DAR -

For the 4th year, members of Piestewa Peak and Maricopa Chapters of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) cleaned grave sites at the historic Pioneer and Military Memorial Park as well as the grounds of the Smurthwaite House near downtown Phoenix. This annual collaborative service project between DAR chapters took place on Saturday, March 27, 2021 at 13th Avenue and West Jefferson Street in Phoenix and resulted in over 25 bags of trash and yard waste.

Maricopa Chapter is the oldest DAR chapter in Arizona, established in 1901. One of the residents of the Smurthwaite house, built in 1897, was Mrs. Carolann Smurthwaite who joined the Maricopa DAR Chapter in 1921.

Piestewa Peak Chapter is the newest of Arizona’s 41 active DAR chapters and was chartered on October 8, 2016. The chapter is named after Piestewa Peak, the second highest point in the Phoenix Mountains. The Peak was named for Specialist Lori Ann Piestewa, a U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps Soldier and member of the Hopi Tribe in northeastern Arizona, who was killed in Iraq on March 23, 2003.

Thank You, Phoenix Parks & Rec!

It was a busy Friday at our historic cemeteries!

Stucco repairs were done on the Loring Vault.
Our sign was repaired and returned.
A tool hanger was installed.
Yard work was completed.

Thank you, City Parks workers and PCA volunteers! All completed before 9 a.m.

Grave Marker Preservation Brooch Event - Thank You!

A huge THANK YOU to our friends who attended our April Mother's Day Brooch event! Thanks to your support while having fun, over $400 was raised to support our grave marker preservation efforts! Preserving Phoenix history and the legacy of these historic grounds would not be possible without you.

Stay tuned for our next event!

Thanks for Coming to Our April Open House!

Thanks to all who attended our "Bee-utiful Flowers" themed April Open House! Attendees went on a scavenger hunt for flowers etched on grave markers and received seed packets to plant at home as a memento. Our Gift Shop was open and folks went on self-guided tours of the historic cemeteries.

Join us on Memorial Day to pay respects to our interred/loved ones on self-guided tours.

Our next Open House events will be in the fall when it cools down again. PCA will remain open on Thursdays over the summer as needed. We're always available by email to answer questions and assist your research projects. Contact us at pioneercem@yahoo.com any time!

Memorial Day Remembrance 2020

Thank you, Cactus Wren Chapter, NSDAR!

PCA is very excited to announce we were awarded a preservation grant from the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. The grant is sponsored by Cactus Wren Chapter, NSDAR of Chandler and will be used for grave marker preservation in our cemeteries. Thank you to Kandy Wagenbach, Gera King, W. Jobeth Fjell, and Jenn Shaffer Merry for your help!

Thank You, Arizona Humanities!

We are excited to announce that PCA received a grant from Arizona Humanities to create new tour brochures and programs focusing on the history of our women and children buried at P&MMP. We will also be able to make repairs to several of the grave markers pertaining to women and children. Why just this select group? This year is the 100th anniversary of women's right to vote and March is women's history month. Our researchers will be hard at work writing more biographies and creating new stories. We hope you enjoy these stories about Martha Beatty, "Pioneer Educator," and 6 year old Willie Meade, both interred at our historic cemeteries.

Click to watch Martha Beatty's story.

Click to watch little Willie Meade's story.

New Blog Featuring Pioneer Cemetery Stories

Be sure to check out a new blog, Behind the Epitaph, provided by PCA volunteers and researchers! You'll find stories about our more colorful characters interred at the Pioneer & Military Memorial Cemeteries. You can "subscribe" to the blog posts to receive updates by providing your email on the right side bar of their blog.

Follow Us on Facebook & Instagram!

Join our team as we share short video stories about some of early Arizona pioneers! "Like" or "Follow" us on our social media sites by clicking the icons below! And you can ALWAYS send us email at pioneercem@yahoo.com - it's the best and fastest way to reach us! (click the envelope)

Inventory of Historic Arizona Cemeteries

Pioneers' Cemetery Association was proud to work with Arizona State Historic Preservation Office as part of the Arizona Statehood Centennial (2011-2012) to create an inventory of historic cemeteries around the state called the Arizona Memory Project. You can find access to this database here. A "historic cemetery" is one that is at least 50 years old and consists of one or more gravesites.

Preserving Sotelo-Heard Cemetery

Our many thanks to reporter John D'Anna of the Arizona Republic for his time, research, and sensitive story featuring a forgotten "Mexican cemetery" in south Phoenix - Sotelo-Heard Cemetery. Enjoy the story in its entirety here. A list of those buried is included at the very end of the story if you're looking for the possibility of tracing your own heritage here. Thanks to John for his updated article of January 11, 2020 here.

Our thanks to Monica Garcia of 12News for her interview with Frank Barrios November 1! The video report can be found here.

Many thanks to Cronkite News and Brittany Watson for her interview with Frank Barrios November 21. The story can be found here.

Pioneers' Cemetery Association is available as a community resource to those seeking to preserve historic cemeteries, aid in research of family genealogy particularly for those connected with our early Arizona burials, and education about early Arizona history by sharing the stories of those who were here before us.

You can contact us at pioneercem@yahoo.com with questions or comments. You are encouraged to become a Friend of PCA by either becoming a member or subscribing to our news. Donations to continue our efforts to preserve history are gratefully accepted.

Listing of Burials

Back by popular demand! If you're looking for the names of all contained (that we're aware of!) within our cemeteries, you can find the entire alphabetic listing under the Research tab for your reference. We have many researchers who find it easier to begin with our lists before heading to Find A Grave or contacting us for details. You'll see notations embedded in lists of who we have additional information about. Feel free to contact us at pioneercem@yahoo.com to access story information. (remember - membership has its benefits!)

Smurthwaite House Video

Many thanks to City of Phoenix's Nathalie Gage as well as Pioneers' Cemetery Association's own Judy Smith and Vivia Strang for their time and talents!

Location & Hours

Smurthwaite House and the cemeteries of Pioneer & Military Memorial Park are open to the public every THURSDAY from 10 AM - 2 PM, on the fourth Saturday of the month September through May at scheduled times, and for special events as posted. The facilities are supervised by an all-volunteer team. Your cooperation to coordinate your activity at available times is greatly appreciated.

Mailing Address
Pioneers' Cemetery Association
P.O. Box 33192
Phoenix, AZ 85067

Smurthwaite House & P&MMP
1317 W. Jefferson St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
pioneercem@yahoo.com

THURSDAYS ONLY - BY APPOINTMENT ONLY BEGINNING JANUARY 2021 - Contact pioneercem@yahoo.com for details
10 AM-2 PM