Gold Beach Pioneer Cemetery and Geisel Monument – Redwood Coast Vacation

We had a fun day exploring the coast and while exploring stumbled upon this neat old cemetery. We are both fascinated by history, how people deal with the dead, etc, and thought it would be interesting. I had originally kept it as part of the main days 5 and 6 adventure post, but decided to separate it as it’s own post. This is a fascinating cemetery and is really surprisingly well preserved considering the age. (Ok, yes, America, old doesn’t mean the same to the rest of the world, particularly on the west coast.)

This is near the north end of Gold Beach, next to McKay’s Market. The sign is fairly prominent so you shouldn’t miss it.

Returning to Gold Beach we saw a sign for a Pioneer Cemetery and decided to check it out.

For such an old cemetery the graves are pretty well preserved, and some of them are a little unique. At least to this Utahn.

Well, you cant keep everything perfect. 1892, still not the oldest here.

1885, getting close, but not quite.

Aside from the surrounding buildings this is really a nice resting spot.

And I believe we found the oldest. It is hard to make out, but the front informs us that 1865 is the oldest known grave.  Not 100% sure, but I believe this is it.

I am pretty sure that spot in the above shot is a sunspot, nothing otherworldly, but it is weird.

Older, more interesting section.

Not very old, but as a fan of the old game The Oregon Trail, i like this one.

After exploring this neat old cemetery we decided that we should return to the Geisel Monument we drove by the other day looking for a beach. It’s pretty fascinating so I am happy we did.

Well, today seems to be about people that died as this is our 3rd stop reflecting that.

This is a monument for a family whom apparently were killed during the Rogue River Indian Wars in 1856. That is a bit older than the Pioneer Cemetery.

Okay, Not much a post but these were both fun side adventures on on Redwood Trip.