“The graveyard containing the remains of the city’s pioneers, great and small, presented the highway department with two alternatives: go around or go through, and pretty near destroy it. The bureaucratic mind which believes that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line chose the second course. Bisected and shorn of its loveliness, and the bones of half its residents, the cemetery was neglected and eventually forgotten.”
“The graveyard containing the remains of the city’s pioneers, great and small, presented the highway department with two alternatives: go around or go through, and pretty near destroy it. The bureaucratic mind which believes that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line chose the second course. Bisected and shorn of its loveliness, and the bones of half its residents, the cemetery was neglected and eventually forgotten.”
-Bill Bates, 1960
-Bill Bates, 1960
The Snohomish Cemetery Project:
Lost but Not Forgotten
The Snohomish Cemetery Project:
Lost but Not Forgotten
Perched on a bluff overlooking the Pilchuck River, the Snohomish Cemetery was once a sacred resting place, promising eternal rest for pioneers and the Native Americans long before them.
Perched on a bluff overlooking the Pilchuck River, the Snohomish Cemetery was once a sacred resting place, promising eternal rest for pioneers and the Native Americans long before them.
Founded in 1876 as the first burial ground in the county, the cemetery fell into neglect within a few decades. Its records were lost, its graves forgotten, and by the mid-20th century, the site had been bulldozed and built over, leaving behind only faint traces of its existence.
Founded in 1876 as the first burial ground in the county, the cemetery fell into neglect within a few decades. Its records were lost, its graves forgotten, and by the mid-20th century, the site had been bulldozed and built over, leaving behind only faint traces of its existence.
That changed with the shocking discovery of human remains in 1996, reigniting memories and questions long buried.
That changed with the shocking discovery of human remains in 1996, reigniting memories and questions long buried.
Coming in 2025, local historian Taylor Russell unveils the complete, untold story of Snohomish's first cemetery in a full-length book—from its founding and decline to its headline-making rediscovery in the modern era.
Coming in 2025, local historian Taylor Russell unveils the complete, untold story of Snohomish's first cemetery in a full-length book—from its founding and decline to its headline-making rediscovery in the modern era.
Join the newsletter below to be notified when the book is published.
Join the newsletter below to be notified when the book is published.
We need your help.
We need your help.
As we approach its 150th anniversary, the cemetery offers a profound opportunity to reflect on our city’s past through this once-sacred space.
As we approach its 150th anniversary, the cemetery offers a profound opportunity to reflect on our city’s past through this once-sacred space.
Local history matters. The past we forget—intentionally or not—continues to shape the future of Snohomish.
Local history matters. The past we forget—intentionally or not—continues to shape the future of Snohomish.
Taylor's research has uncovered a wealth of new information about the Snohomish Pioneer Cemetery (also called Pilchuck Cemetery). Now, we're working on tracing the genealogical histories of those left buried in unmarked graves.
Taylor's research has uncovered a wealth of new information about the Snohomish Pioneer Cemetery (also called Pilchuck Cemetery). Now, we're working on tracing the genealogical histories of those left buried in unmarked graves.
This invaluable resource will be made publicly available after the book’s publication.
This invaluable resource will be made publicly available after the book’s publication.
If you have access to Ancestry or local newspaper archives, your skills could help us bring these stories to life. Together, we can piece together the lives of those resting beneath this historic site.
If you have access to Ancestry or local newspaper archives, your skills could help us bring these stories to life. Together, we can piece together the lives of those resting beneath this historic site.
Interested in contributing? Reach out and help us in preserving Snohomish’s past!
Interested in contributing? Reach out and help us in preserving Snohomish’s past!
Snohomish Cemetery Book Coming in 2025
Snohomish Cemetery Book Coming in 2025
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Old News, Delivered Monthly
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