City of Racine
New Interactive Cemetery Map Now Available for Graceland and Mound Cemeteries
The City of Racine has launched a new interactive cemetery map that makes it easier for residents and visitors to locate gravesites and access burial information at Graceland Cemetery and Mound Cemetery.
Available through the City’s Cemetery webpage and GIS Hub, the new public viewer allows users to search for loved ones by name or gravesite ID, zoom directly to gravesite locations, and view burial information, including burial date, age, and date of death.
The tool is designed to work on both desktop and mobile devices, making it easier for visitors to navigate the cemeteries while on-site.
Modernizing Cemetery Records
The project began after cemetery staff experienced ongoing issues with the City’s previous records system, which was slow, prone to errors, and lacked reliable mapping functionality. Staff continued maintaining paper records and historical maps to ensure information remained accurate.
In late 2024, the City’s MIS Department selected ESRI’s Cemetery Management Solution to modernize cemetery operations and improve public access to records.
“Our goal was to build a system that was more accurate, more reliable, and easier for both staff and residents to use,” said Chief Information Officer Adele Edwards. “The interactive map allows visitors to search records and navigate the cemeteries directly from their phone, which is a major improvement over the previous process.”
Over the course of more than a year, the City’s GIS team created more than 77,000 gravesites in GIS using CAD drawings and mapping tools while also transferring burial and ownership records into the new system.
The project required extensive collaboration with cemetery staff, including Crystal Weime and Jacob Burchyett, who used paper drawings, burial records, and hand-drawn maps to help verify historical data.
Easier Navigation for Residents and Visitors
The new viewer provides a more accessible and intuitive way to explore cemetery information and locate gravesites within the large and uniquely designed cemetery grounds.
Users can:
- Search by loved one’s name or gravesite ID
- Zoom directly to gravesite locations
- View burial information through interactive map pop-ups
- Access cemetery details, history, contact information, and hours
The cemetery viewer is available here: https://cityofracinewi.gov/parksrec/cemetery/
Gravesite locations displayed on the map are approximate and may not reflect exact burial locations.
