PORT TOWNSEND, WASHINGTON A PLACE OF REMEMBRANCE

A PORT TOWNSEND LANDMARK

A place to remember.
A history to honor.

In the heart of Port Townsend, Laurel Grove Cemetery holds the stories of generations—a quiet place to reflect, remember loved ones, and connect with our community’s past.

550 Discovery Rd Port Townsend, Washington

Chief Chetzemoka’s grave marker at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Port Townsend
CHIEF CHETZEMOKA’S GRAVE LAUREL GROVE

Honoring lives. Preserving stories. Remembering together.

ROOTED IN OUR COMMUNITY

The stories of a town,
held across generations.

A lasting connection to Port Townsend’s past.

Laurel Grove’s history reaches back to the nineteenth century, when Port Townsend was growing as a maritime community on the Salish Sea.

The Jefferson County Genealogical Society, citing City of Dreams, records that the local Masonic lodge purchased eleven acres on Discovery Road in 1871 to establish the present cemetery. Remains from earlier burial grounds were reinterred here.

Today, its headstones and monuments invite us to consider the people behind the names: families, neighbors, and individuals whose lives are part of this community’s story.

Explore the historical record

LIVES REMEMBERED

More than names in stone.

Every memorial represents a life. Together, they connect personal remembrance with the wider history of this place.

01 / LOCAL HISTORY

Chief Chetzemoka

The S’Klallam leader and signer of the 1855 Treaty of Point No Point was buried at Laurel Grove in 1888. His life remains an important part of the history of Port Townsend and the S’Klallam people.

Read the Tribe’s account
02 / SERVICE & REMEMBRANCE

Honoring service

A Civil War memorial, erected in 1895 by Farragut Corps No. 38 of the Woman’s Relief Corps, stands within the cemetery. It offers a place to reflect on service and sacrifice.

Learn about the memorial
03 / FAMILY CONNECTIONS

Generations of stories

A name, a date, or a family inscription can be the beginning of a discovery. Local cemetery records help descendants and researchers connect those details with family history.

Explore research resources

FIND LAUREL GROVE

A moment of quiet.
A meaningful visit.

550 Discovery Rd
Port Townsend, WA 98368

The cemetery is on the west side of Discovery Road, between 22nd and 24th streets.

Get directions

VISITING WITH CARE

A shared place of remembrance.

Whether you are visiting a loved one or learning about local history, please help preserve the peace and dignity of the grounds.

  • Give families and services privacy and space.
  • Leave headstones, flowers, and memorial objects undisturbed.
  • Walk with care around older monuments and uneven ground.
  • Follow posted notices and leave the grounds as you found them.

For current access information, please follow notices at the cemetery entrance.

FOLLOW A FAMILY STORY

Begin your research.

These independent resources can help locate burial records and explore family connections. Historical transcriptions may contain errors or omissions; compare records where possible.

WE’RE HERE TO HELP

Contact Laurel Grove.

For cemetery information and questions about visiting, please call or email.

Laurel Grove Cemetery is not a perpetual care cemetery.