Tour Portland’s Historic Lone Fir Cemetery

“Lone Fir #1” by brx0 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Looking for a one-of-a-kind experience to retrace Portland’s history in an arboretum? Take a tour of Portland’s historic Lone Fir Cemetery.

Located in Southeast Portland, Lone Fir Cemetery is one of Portland’s oldest continuously used cemeteries. The 30 acres is the final resting place of many noteworthy Portlanders in a picturesque setting with more than 500 trees. One of the old growth trees is a Douglas Fir that is the 150-year-old namesake of the cemetery. 

This beloved green space has many iconic sights, like the Macleay Mausoleum (you may recognize this name from one of Portland’s best urban parks), the Chinese burial grounds at Block 14, the Pioneer Rose Garden and Bottler Tomb. All of these historic attributes earned Lone Fir Cemetery a plot on the National Register of Historic Places.

The monthly tours of Lone Fir Cemetery retrace the rich history of our community and the people who helped shape it. Tours are hosted by the Friends of Lone Fir Cemetery, a volunteer organization dedicated to education, preservation and restoration of the historic cemetery. There are four opportunities below for you to explore this historic Portland cemetery. 

Tour Portland’s Historic Lone Fir Cemetery

Guided Tours

There are two different guided tours at the Lone Fir Cemetery each month: Historical Tour and Stories in Stone Tour. Both give you a unique insight of the historic figures who shaped our city while enjoying the beauty of the cemetery. Tours are suitable for all ages and wheelchair accessible by arrangement.

The Historical Tour highlights Portland’s founders, pioneers, famous and infamous figures, and interesting headstones and monuments.

The event takes place on the second Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. The tour will begin at the Soldiers Monument, located in the center of the cemetery, and will last about 2 hours.

Here are the upcoming Historical Tours.

• January 14
• February 11
• March 11
• April 8
• May 13
• June 10
• July 8
• August 12
• September 9
• October 14
• November 11
• December 9

Admission is a suggested donation of $10 and you can reserve a spot in advance online. Space is limited. 

The Stories of the Stone Tour an insider’s guide to all of the marvels of Lone Fir Cemetery that are not covered in the Historical Tour. You’ll visit additional structures, historic figures and symbols seen throughout the cemetery.

The tour is split into north and south sides of the cemetery, which alternate every month. 

Stories of the Stone takes place on the first Saturday each month at 10 a.m. The tour will begin at the Soldiers Monument, located in the center of the cemetery, and will last about 2 hours.

Here are the upcoming Stories of the Stone Tours: 

• February 4 – South
• March 4 – North
• April 1 – South
• May 6 – South
• June 3 – North
• July 1 – South
• August 5 – North
• September 2 – South
• October 7 – North
• November 4 – South
• December 2 – North

Admission is a suggested donation of $10 and you can reserve a spot in advance online. Space is limited. 

Self-Guided Tours

If you’d like a DIY tour, Lone Fir Cemetery has an interactive Google Map that guides you to the notable residents, including civic leaders, pioneers, and other notorious and celebrated historic figures. The map includes a brief explanation of the significance of each highlighted headstone and monument.

The Lone Fir Cemetery is open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. View the self-guided tour at the on the Friends of Lone Pine Cemetery website. 

Headstone Workshops

Learn how to clean headstones and help fellow volunteers spruce up the cemetery. Meet at the Soldiers Monument, located in the center of the cemetery. This event is free to attend and you do not need to RSVP. 

The workshop runs from 10 a.m. until noon. Supplies will be provided, but make sure you pack gloves and dress in clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.

Headstone workshops take place every third Saturday of the month from April through September.

Here are the 2023 dates:

• April 15
• May 20
• June 17
• July 15
• August 19
• September 16

Lone Fir Cemetery is located at 649 SE 26th Ave. in Portland. For more information about events happening at Portland’s historic cemetery, visit the Friends of Lone Fir Cemetery website. 

Want more Portland freebies, events and deals? Subscribe to my newsletter (only one email a day), and follow me on Facebook and Twitter!

You may also like:

Free Cultural Passes at Portland Libraries

2022 Museums on Us: Free Museum Admission This Weekend