Pathway into the cemetery, lined with wild purple Lupine and blue irises. It's a beautiful and peaceful transition into the small cemetery.
Taken June 2011.

Cape Blanco Pioneer Cemetery in June, 2011.

Cape Blanco Pioneer Cemetery, aka Hughes Family Cemetery, is located on a road into Cape Blanco State Park. The graveyard was built around the local church (Mary, Star of the Sea), and contained various members of the Hughes family and their mostly Irish immigrant neighbors. The church, now gone, was built by the first Hughes in the area, and is discussed in the interpretive sign here.

Also nearby this site is the restored Victorian ranch house (open for tours) known as Hughes House, also built by the first Hughes here. The lighthouse (Cape Blanco Lighthouse) is very close by and is still in use by the Coast Guard. It was built with brick materials purchased from the Hughes' lands, built in part with the Hughes family members, and was a place of employment for at least one Hughes' son.

The Hughes family remains and perhaps the remains of all of this cemetery's inhabitants have been removed to other locations, but those stones still fit to display are located here, including the first Hughes American forefather, Patrick Hughes.

Interpretive sign at cemetery pathway opening.

Photo credit: Rachel and Bob Houghton

2014

2014

pathway into the cemetery 2014