Lakewood Cemetery Project Restores Patient Markers
Volunteers have placed 3,218 final name markers for patients buried at the historic Fort Steilacoom Park site.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Alzheimer’s
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After a 22-year volunteer effort, every individual interred at the Fort Steilacoom Park cemetery has now been identified with a permanent marker. This project honors 3,218 former patients of Western State Hospital who were buried between 1879 and 1953.
Why it matters
The effort reverses a history of anonymity driven by the stigma surrounding mental illness, which initially resulted in patients being buried with only minimal identification. The restoration was made possible by a 2004 state law amendment that allowed access to previously protected patient records.
The Grave Concerns Association completed the documentation of 3,218 graves dating from 1879 to 1953. This project utilized historical patient records made accessible through a 2004 state law change to verify each burial.
The players
Grave Concerns Association
A group of volunteers dedicated to the restoration and identification of the historic Western State Hospital cemetery.
Western State Hospital
A psychiatric hospital that served as the institution for the 3,218 patients buried at Fort Steilacoom Park.
The details
Volunteers from the Grave Concerns Association mapped the grounds of the site located at 8714 87th Ave. SW in Lakewood to locate unmarked plots. They hand-installed inscribed gravestones and dug protective grooves around each marker to prevent overgrowth and erosion. These steps ensure the final resting places remain visible and respected for future generations.
Timeline
The burial period for Western State Hospital patients lasted from 1879 to 1953.
State law prevented the publication of patient names in cemetery records until 2004.
The Grave Concerns Association restoration project began in 2004.
Final markers were installed on October 10, 2026.
Health Landscape
The project follows a national trend toward re-evaluating the treatment of institutionalized psychiatric patients in historical records. By surfacing these names, the effort aligns with broader initiatives to destigmatize mental health care histories.
This project highlights the importance of historical health documentation in preserving patient dignity long after treatment has ended. Families seeking information on relatives who were patients at the hospital may now find the historical record more accessible.
The takeaway
The installation of these markers acknowledges the humanity of individuals previously obscured by the stigma of mental illness. Residents interested in local history can honor these efforts by acknowledging the restoration at the upcoming reception held at Christ Lutheran Church.
Further reading
Learn more about Alzheimer’s and its historical context in mental health care.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Tacoma News Tribune.
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Should communities prioritize the formal identification and marking of unmarked historical graves in local parks?
