Fulton-Presbyterian Cemetery
Why it's listed
Two adjoining cemeteries on Carrel Street in Cincinnati's Columbia-Tusculum area make up this abandoned burial ground. The Columbia Presbyterian Cemetery is among the oldest in the city and is linked to the Columbia First Presbyterian Church, founded in 1790. It holds an 1804 tombstone and others dated 1824 through the 1840s. Next to it lies the Fulton Cemetery, established after land was bought from Nicholas Longworth in 1838 to replace the original Fulton Mechanics Cemetery downstream. Most of its graves date from the 1840s and 1850s. Sergeant William Brown, described as the nation's first Purple Heart recipient, honored by George Washington in 1783, is buried here. About 150 graves are present, though far fewer have monuments, and those that remain are heavily damaged by exposure and vandalism. Remnants of a wrought iron fence survive. The site is hemmed in by a railroad, a dump and the city water works, and its condition is described as poor and rapidly worsening.
Significance in brief: The Columbia Presbyterian Cemetery is described as among the oldest in Cincinnati, tied to a church founded in 1790 and holding an 1804 tombstone. The adjoining Fulton Cemetery dates from 1838 and holds the grave of Sergeant William Brown, described as the nation's first Purple Heart recipient.
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 79002706, listed August 24, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Carrel St., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | August 24, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002706 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | circa 1805-1865 |
| Areas of significance | Military, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Abandoned and in rapidly deteriorating condition; most markers are broken or hidden in undergrowth, with damage from neglect and vandals. Surrounded by a railroad, a dump and the Cincinnati water works. |
| Coordinates | 39.10679, -84.43303 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 79002706.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5508395
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.