Gower Cemetery
National Register of Historic Places

Gower Cemetery

Edmond, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
Listed
December 27, 1991
Type
Site
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
91001895

About this property

Gower Cemetery is a historic African American cemetery located in Edmond, Oklahoma. It was established in 1889 by a formerly enslaved couple named Ophelia and John Gower who allowed other families of color and indigent people to bury their dead on their land for free. The burial ground was recognized by the State of Oklahoma in 1907. The Gower's granddaughter worked to have the site added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991 as the sole surviving proof of a former black homesteading community in that location. It is estimated that 200 individuals are interred at the site which is located east of Interstate 35 on Covel Road between Douglas and Post Roads.

Location

Edmond, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
35.68136, -97.36056

Categories

BLACKEXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

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"Ringing the Wild Horse" Site
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Questions about this property

When was Gower Cemetery listed on the National Register?

Gower Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 27, 1991.

What type of historic resource is Gower Cemetery?

Gower Cemetery is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Gower Cemetery?

The period of significance for Gower Cemetery is recorded as the industrial era, specifically around 1889.

Can I research the history near Gower Cemetery?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Gower Cemetery will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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