Woodlawn Garden of Memories Cemetery
Why it's listed
Woodlawn Garden of Memories Cemetery occupies about 60 acres on the western edge of Houston, opened in 1931 on rural land two miles beyond the city limits. Much of the ground is forested with mature pine, oak, hickory and elm. Winding roads link themed burial gardens, some with upright monuments and others with flat markers. Around 1940 the owners added flat-marker sections and commissioned Mexican artisan Dionicio Rodriguez to create rustic cement sculpture imitating wood and rock. His work includes a 25-foot faux wood cross with four benches, a woven basket, a honeycomb rock fountain and planter, the Annie Laurie Wishing Chair, and a fallen-tree bench. It is his only known cemetery work in Texas. The cemetery reflects both the lawn-park plan and the memorial-park model associated with Hubert Eaton's Forest Lawn. Its design and Rodriguez's artwork support its significance in art and landscape architecture. The office, funeral home, mausoleum, Bible sculpture and an arbor are later or noncontributing additions.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the cemetery is significant under Criterion C in the areas of Art and Landscape Architecture. It shows the evolution from the lawn-park cemetery to the memorial-park type, with flat markers and sculptural embellishment. It also holds Rodriguez's only known cemetery work in Texas, in his faux bois style.
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 04001174, listed October 22, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1101 Antoine, Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | October 22, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04001174 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1931-1954 |
| Architect / builder | Dionicio Rodriguez (sculptor) |
| Architectural style | Other: Faux bois sculpture |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art, Landscape Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Active, perpetual care cemetery; the Rodriguez sculptures were described as in good condition in 2003, though the fountain was not functioning. |
| Acreage | 34.8 |
| Coordinates | 29.78857, -95.47814 (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 04001174.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8033016
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.