Moravia Union Cemetery
Also known as: Dry Creek Cemetery
Why it's listed
Moravia Union Cemetery, also known as Dry Creek Cemetery, is a three-acre burial ground on the southern edge of the village of Moravia, New York. Opened in 1807 on land the First Congregational Church Society bought from Moses Little, it became the community's earliest burial place. It is thought to hold about 350 graves, with roughly 180 markers still standing. Most are early to mid-nineteenth century marble, sandstone or slate slabs carved with urns, willows, rising suns and funerary verses in the New England tradition. Settlers buried here include a tavern owner, a woolen mill builder, the first schoolteacher and the first Methodist pastor. A flood on July 21, 1863 washed out part of the western edge and at least 13 coffins or bodies. That event led townspeople to found a new cemetery, and the old ground saw only occasional burials after that, the last in 1940. The 1807 to 1863 period reflects the cemetery's role in early settlement.
Significance in brief: It is Moravia's earliest community burial ground and holds the graves of many of the village's first settlers and leading citizens. The nomination ties it to the initial settlement and development of Moravia by New England migrants. It is also noted for its age, its isolated rural setting, and early New England-style carved headstones.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 95001278, listed November 7, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NY 38, Moravia |
|---|---|
| County | Cayuga County |
| Listed | November 7, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95001278 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1807-1863 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Maintenance is limited to mowing, done as a community service by staff of the adjacent Fillmore Glen State Park. Research and restoration initiatives are planned by the Society for Historic Moravia. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 42.70196, -76.41733 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 95001278.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6909332
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.