Columbia Baptist Cemetery
Also known as: Memorial Baptist Cemetery
Why it's listed
Columbia Baptist Cemetery, also called Memorial Pioneer Cemetery, sits on a small knoll above the Little Miami flood plain in Cincinnati, across from Lunken Airport. It holds the graves of 117 identified individuals dated 1797 through 1890, including five Revolutionary War soldiers and nine Civil War soldiers. Among those buried are Major Benjamin Stites, who founded the settlement of Columbia in 1788, and Aaron Mercer and Ichabod Miller, who platted Mercersburg (Newtown). The ground was once a Woodland Indian village and later the location of Columbia Baptist Church, founded in 1790 and built in 1792, the first Protestant congregation in the Northwest Territory. A fluted Corinthian column taken from the Cincinnati Post Office Building was erected in 1889 to mark the Baptist pioneers and the centennial of Columbia. The Cincinnati Park Board has maintained the grounds since 1964, and the site is open to the public as a cemetery and park.
Significance in brief: The cemetery holds the graves of some of the first settlers in Hamilton County and the Miami Purchase, including Major Benjamin Stites, who settled Columbia in 1788. It occupies the site of the Columbia Baptist Church, the first Protestant congregation in the Northwest Territory, and of an earlier Woodland Indian village.
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 79002709, listed August 24, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Northside of Wilmer Rd., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | August 24, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002709 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | c. 1790-1890 |
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and used as a cemetery and park; the Cincinnati Park Board has maintained it since 1964. Tombstones are generally in good repair, though some have been cemented or glued. |
| Coordinates | 39.10626, -84.42912 (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 79002709.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7196726
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.