Touring the Historic Ferris Cemetery
Download topographic survey, landscape map, 1986 SMU Archaeologic study, and historical land grant articles here
The Ferris Cemetery Self-Guided Tour
Entrance at 8375 San Leandro Drive, Dallas, TX 75218
Click on orange links below:
1. The Friends of the Warren Ferris Cemetery mission AND the ups & downs of the cemetery’s history, and how the cemetery survived urban development.
2. Who was Warren Angus Ferris - the first person to survey Dallas & life as a surveyor in the mid 1800s
Historian Susanne Starling’s biography on Warren Ferris - “Land is the Cry! Warren Angus Ferris, Pioneer Texas Surveyor and Founder of Dallas County”
3. Red ribbons tied on the native sapling trees story - the Tree of Life School Story, Tree of Life Program for Teachers and Students & its City-Wide initiative
4. Watch this video: Why and how to restore the cemetery landscape to a native wildlife habitat
A. Native Prairie Association Association of Texas, Step-by-Step
B. Nine Native Gardening Approach, Simplified Step-by-Step
5. Remembering Black Dallas - Identifying African Americans at the Warren Ferris Cemetery
Who was R.T. Taylor, an African American preacher of note, the last person to be buried in the cemetery
6. Benjamin Dye Rememberance Headstone story
7. One year research by Genealogist Donald Payton on finding the names of those buried in the cemetery
8. Baby graves in the upper cemetery – possibly Ferris’s infant children?
9. Water feature for wildlife - Certification criteria for a Wildlife Habitat & Monarch Butterfly Way Station
10. Bird houses throughout: owl house, bat house, plus installation of a Native Bee House and the importance of solitary bees!
11. Boulder bench story – invitation to sit and enjoy a wildlife setting for peace of mind
12. The white Iris Berm Story - During the SMU archaeological study in 1985 “scrapping” was the technique used to scratch the top six inches of soil to reveal soil disturbance to find graves. The excess soil pushed to create a high berm the NE corner of San Leandro Dr and St. Francis Ave. Back in the 1800’s, white iris bulbs were planted at the grave site. Hence, a research bi-product created the white iris berm. SMU Archaeoligical Dept Study. Click here to read the SMU study.
13. View curated Wildlife camera footage
14. Native plant donations through Texas Conservation Alliance and Texas Discover garden - Ferris Cemetery iNaturalist page- a living record on native plants identified to date.
15. Create sustainability through building business partnerships
16. List of accomplishments
18. Donate
19. Opportunity to leave a message/suggestion via ferriswildlife@gmail.com or leave a letter in the birdhouse mailbox
• 2019, Formed an effective working organization with a formal Board & Board of Advisors
• 2019, Created a website to showcase archived newsletters, the documentary, over 30 stories in the descendant blog, a list of Board Members, Board of Advisors, progress review, goals, awards
• 2019, Obtained a property survey to develop a landscape restoration plan
• 2020, Earned a Preservation Dallas Achievement Award and a Texas Historic Cemetery Medallion from the Texas Historical Commission in 2021
• 2021, Completed a one-year research finding the lost names of the people buried
• On going - Contacting numerous families whose ancestors are buried at the cemetery
Ferris’s story about his handdrawn Yellowstone map
• 2021, Completed and donated a 7-part documentary, “The Ferris Cemetery, A Future As Well As a Past” to the Dallas Public Library System for school access
• 2021 & 2202, Recognized by the Native Plant Society of Texas Video Awards
• 2019-present, Significantly improved the cemetery condition by continual removal of invasive plants
• 2019 - present, Planted over 175 native plants and trees
• Since 2019, amassed over 400 volunteer hours working in the cemetery
• Since 2019, identified over 100 native plants
• Since 2019, published over 30 newsletters which include stories about descendants
• Since 2019, shared our experience with other historic cemeteries to assist them in theirrestoration, 501c3 status, volunteer coordination: McCree Cemetery, Glover Cemetery, Campo Santo de Cemento Grande, The Walker-Edwards Cemetery
• Since 2020, invited to participate in the East White Rock Lake Garden Tour three consecutive years
• Since 2019, partnered with the following groups to work toward our shared goals: Native Plant Society of Texas, Statewide & Dallas, Texas Conservation Alliance, The Texas Discovery Garden, North Texas Master Gardeners Association
• 2022, Developed the Tree of Life Program for native tree adoption from cemetery to Dallas high schools
• 2020, Developed the Constellation Living Memorial program in partnership with the Native Plant Society of Texas
• Since 2019, secured partnership with North Texas Master Naturalist for membership volunteer credits
• 2022, Installed a natural rock water feature qualifying as a certified Monarch Butterfly Waystation and Wildlife Habitat
2023, Sanger Preparatory School Experiential Educational Partnership
• Since 2019, hosted over 3 dozen community lectures, art groups and volunteer study/opportunity, provided seating for meditation and general enjoyment for public enjoyment in the Ferris Cemetery garden