Sierra Vista Cemetery is located just north of the intersection of Paseo del Pueblo Norte and Sierra Vista Rd; a stone's throw from one of the town's busiest thoroughfares.
An incongruously humble place for many of the larger-than-life historic characters resting there. The oldest plots include the graves of artists who founded the Taos Society of Artists. Bert Phillips and E. Irving Couse are buried alongside Victory Higgins. The grave of Oscar Berninghaus is to the north and Buck Dunton to the south.
Walking amid the headstones, visitors can find familiar names of anyone who has ever passed through Taos.
"Doc" Martin's grave is on the corner of one path leading north, Millicent Rogers rests around the corner from Leon Gaspard and Saki Karavas of La Fonda De Taos.
The first plots were purchased in the mid-1910s and were originally predominated by Protestants. In the ensuing years the cemetery has expanded to include other faiths.
The headstones range from extravagant to hand-carved blocks of wood. Government standard marble headstones mark the graves of more than 100 veterans, including a few who served in World War I.
The Board of the Sierra Vista Cemetery Association is committed to not raise fees from the historic lows, and relies on volunteers to keep the cemetery beautiful.
Thank you!
To find information on burial sites at Sierra Vista Cemetery, visit Find A Grave.
Cemetery Mapping Project! We're currently in the process of mapping the cemetery, including utilizing ground-penetrating-radar (GPR) to locate existing plots. The orange spray paint used to mark locations is temporary and will fade away.
Sep. 19, 2014 - Millicent Rogers could have been buried anywhere. She chose Sierra Vista Cemetery.
Nestled behind an Allsups gas station and within earshot of the town's busiest thoroughfare, the graveyard may seem an incongruously humble resting place for many of the larger-than-life characters that dominate Taos history.
But, as local artist Thom Wheeler points out, the likes of Rogers and Leon Gaspard are buried there beneath the dusty earth for the very reason they flocked to Northern New Mexico in the first place — they loved it.
Article: The Taos News Read Full Article
May 17, 2015 - Wheeler assists in the clean-up and restoration of the Sierra Vista Cemetery in Taos where several Taos Society of Artists members
Sep. 19, 2014 - The Taos Lilac Festival co-organizer Thom Wheeler walks with his wife, Lavinia, in the Sierra Vista Cemetery where they have started to look after.
Sep. 19, 2014 - The new and improved gate to Sierra Vista Cemetery, the last resting place for a number of high-profile Taoseños.
| Full Plot - 4' x 8' One burial per site |
$2,000 (includes perpetual maintenance care) |
| Crema-Burial - 4' x 4' Two burials per site |
$1250 (includes perpetual maintenance care) |
| Yearly Maintenance / plot Annual contribution towards the costs of cemetery operations* |
$25 |
| Burial Fee | $165 |
| Perpetual Maintenance In lieu of paying annually you may choose a one-time fee to contribute to the costs of cemetery operations* |
$500 |
*Operations includes, but is not limited to: general maintenance, repairs, cemetery improvements, security, insurance, water, garbage pickup, caretaking, opening/closing gate, planting, and promotion.
Burial opening and closing fees will be paid directly to the contractor. Any additional fees by contractor will be the responsibility of the family.
To all the family and friends of the Sierra Vista Cemetery Association, we need your help bringing our records up to date!
We are in the process of creating an historical record of the cemetery and we are diligently trying to update our records to better serve you and maintain this beautiful place. Please allow us to honor your family and friends buried in Sierra Vista by taking a moment to fill out the questionnaire below.
Please take a moment and write a brief summary/eulogy of what you would like to be included about your loved ones.
Sierra Vista Cemetery Association, a 501(c)(13) tax exempt organization, is pleased to provide exemplary services to families through its core services and additional programs. Sierra Vista Cemetery Board receives no compensation and is an all-volunteer organization.
Elizabeth Crittenden Palacios, President
Nic Knight, Vice President
Anne Brenner, Treasurer
Cathy Aragon, Secretary
Thom wheeler
Lavinia wheeler
Paula Martinez-Mascareñas
Hugh Burt
Mary Domito
Barbara Crews
Patsy Scott
Dennis Scott
Dolly Peralta
Barbara Brenner
Financials are available upon request.
Sierra Vista Cemetery is located north of the intersection of Paseo del Pueblo Norte and Sierra Vista Rd.
PO Box 2103 • Taos, NM 87571
Tommy Mascareñas • (575)613-2546
8:00 a.m. to sunset, every day. No admission after sunset.
Burials should be scheduled between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
The cemetery is an incongruously humble place for many of the larger-than-life historic characters resting there. Walking amid the headstones, visitors can find familiar names of many who passed through Taos. "Doc" Martin's grave is on the corner of one path leading north, Millicent Rogers rests around the corner from Leon Gaspard and Saki Karavas of La Fonda De Taos. Make a gift to Sierra Vista Cemetery Sierra Vista Cemetery Association uses contributions to maintain the premises. This includes, but is not limited to: general maintenance, repairs, cemetery improvements, security, insurance, water, garbage pick up, caretaking, opening/closing gate, planting, and promotion. Partner With Us In Preservation