Palo Duro Wildorado Cemetery

Early settlers to this area included the J.C. Womble family, which came in January 1892. The next year, the community obtained land on which to build a schoolhouse, known as the Union School. In May 1893, George D. Whitfield, a young cowboy, was buried in what was the schoolyard. His is the first marked burial, although two earlier graves were known to exist at the time. In 1901, residents organized the Palo Duro Missionary Baptist Church and held services in the schoolhouse. They moved across the road in 1905. In May 1910, the school moved approximately two miles north, and the property reverted back to its original owner. The land with the gravesites was deeded to the community in 1914 for use as a cemetery. During the mid-20th century, area residents bought additional land and added a well and fence. As the burial site of numerous area residents, as well as men and women veterans of the military, the cemetery serves as a link to the area's rich history. Historic Texas Cemetery - 2004

Palo Duro Wildorado Cemetery is a historical marker in Dawn, Deaf Smith County, dedicated in 2004. It is one of 15 historical markers documented in Deaf Smith County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 20 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 35.1168, -102.2035 near Dawn. The nearest cataloged historic site is Palo Duro Baptist Church (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Town of Dawn, Hereford Christian College, and The Thompson House.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5117013076. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.