St. Rose of Lima Cemetery & Abandoned Chapel

The Chapel that sits in this cemetery was erected in 1800. It remained active until a new chapel was built just down the road in 1907. The new chapel is active.
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Rhetty for History
P.O. Box 850593
Yukon, OK 73085
#newmexico #cemetery #graves

[@rodneyschells9632]

You always find fantastic places to visit I like I like this little Cemetery

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you my friend. I loved this cemetery. It wasn't big but how often are you going to see chapel ruins from the 1800's in a cemetery? It's definitely one of my favorites.

[@thisoldnurse1521]

Beautiful ruins of the old chapel. Would be excellent for wedding photos.

[@ThatOldBiddy]

Thank you for choosing to walk around the graves. It really creeps me out when people just knowingly walk on top of a grave. It feels so disrespectful. As always- very interesting video- thanks for sharing.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you Biddy. I try not to walk on them but sometimes it's unavoidable. Some cemeteries are more challenging than others. I appreciate you watching.

[@caroleroseburgh1344]

Hey Rhett, awesome video, thank you for sharing ☺

[@RhettyforHistory]

HI Carole! Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@colleenbazyn2171]

Thanks Rhetty, enjoyed this video too!!!

[@RhettyforHistory]

You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed and I appreciate you watching!

[@karen4you]

Very interesting as always. The chapel ruin really adds to it, too.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you Karen. I love the chapel ruins in this cemetery. I personally have never seen another like this.

[@Doquiher]

Very interesting video. Excellent Job!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you Domingo! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@allthebest744]

Wonderful and informative video. The chapel is gorgeous. I am very curious about the cement slabs over the graves. According to Wikipedia, "by 1744 at least 20 families were living in the present-day Abiquiú area, where they founded the Plaza de Santa Rosa de Lima. The church was built around 1744, and was in use until the 1930s. Repeated raids by Utes and Comanches caused the settlement to be abandoned in 1747. Today the site of Santa Rosa de Lima is a ghost town, with substantial adobe ruins of the church, and mounds where the settlers' adobe houses stood." Did you notice any of the mounds? I could not find any info on the chapel as to what caused the damage. A fire or old age? Santa Rosa de Lima de Abiquiu was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. I love how you keep history alive. Most of us would have driven by this peaceful cemetery and chapel.

[@RhettyforHistory]

That is some fascinating history that you found. That Abiquiu almost looks like Albuquerque. It's interesting that what you found says 1744 and the cemetery marker says 1800. Maybe they had a built a completely different church. That makes me wonder if it was in the same site or a completely different area of the town. I did not notice the mounds that you have pointed out but that doesn't mean that they aren't there. I just had no idea to look for them. That's really fascinating though. There is so much history out there in that area. We definitely plan to go back west again so that is probably something I want to try and look for. I didn't drive the whole area but I did see some old houses from the late 1800's maybe but for sure the early 1900's. Thanks again for sharing what you found as well as for watching.

[@julzmgrforll7278]

Santa rosa and abiquiu are two different places. There are many churches dedicated to saint rose.

[@allthebest744]

Julz Mgrforll As Roseanne Roseannadanna would say, "Nevermind." My mistake!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Where is exactly is that one?

[@allthebest744]

RhettyforFun Here is where I found my mis-information. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Rosa_de_Lima,_New_Mexico

[@GothicPrincezz]

Very interesting cemetery. Love the old pic also.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you Princezz! I appreciate you joining me on this one. Definitely one of my favorite cemeteries with that crumbling chapel.

[@Lola-yw8ki]

Wow! Interesting cemetery with different ways to cover, frame the plots! Cement, marble, lava rocks, fences! It was awesome to see the chapel as it was! Thanks so much for including that! Looking forward to what's to come! As always safe travels!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you Lola! I appreciate you watching! I really loved visiting this old chapel and cemetery.

[@TampaJay]

The old church is awesome man I’m happy you found the photo.

[@RhettyforHistory]

I loved that old chapel. The top part of that church was completely different than what I pictured in my mind. Thanks for watching Jay!

[@MsLadyportia]

Awesome of you to film on site. Loving finding out about history on your end from Australia.

[@RhettyforHistory]

You're welcome Portia! I appreciate you always watching and commenting.

[@nadiabrook7871]

What a FASCINATING little cemetery!! I love the old wrought iron fences!! XXXX

[@RhettyforHistory]

This was a fascinating cemetery to visit with the little chapel. Thank you for watching Nadia!

[@tangie777uk]

I could watch your videos all day long, so interesting, love them, thank you so much Rhetty.

[@RhettyforHistory]

I appreciate you always taking the time to watch and comment Tangi!

[@donaldmilhoan6379]

Your Cemetary videos are so excellent!!!! Thank you!!!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you Donald and I'm glad to hear you're enjoying them. Thanks for watching!

[@carpediem4887]

Dear Rhett.....Your beard game is on point man.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you Carpe!

[@440SPN]

Very nice tour. Thanks for sharing your time. 🥰

[@RhettyforHistory]

You're welcome and thank you for watching!

[@loradurling2358]

Nice little cemetery. Interesting. Thanks for the tour.

[@RhettyforHistory]

You're welcome and thank you for watching.

[@janicetrent9694]

Thanks again for a very interesting tour. Enjoyed it very much.

[@RhettyforHistory]

You're welcome Janice! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!

[@marypettyfer4640]

This is so neat and tidy the fencing is lovely I really like that, so nice to see a well kept cemetery 😚

[@RhettyforHistory]

Yes I loved this cemetery. Definitely one of my favorites!

[@SoCalUrbex74]

09:25 The Cross I.H.S. meaning Lesus Hominum Salvator (Jesus Savior of Men) 09:17 I see that alot in Mexico. That Old Chaple is like going back in time

[@RhettyforHistory]

I really love this New Mexico area. You can feel a lot of the old Mexico culture and Spanish culture. The Mexican restaurants even take siestas starting at 1pm. Some take that until 3 and others until 5. We even saw one that said 7. I love all the architecture and art there.

[@SoCalUrbex74]

If you ever have a chance, visit the Spanish Missions in New Mexico. It like going back in time,

[@RhettyforHistory]

I definitely want to go back out in that area and do more filming.

[@marypettyfer4640]

Thankyou for explaining 😊☺

[@SoCalUrbex74]

@@marypettyfer4640 No problem !

[@hankfacer7098]

Beautiful old Mission Chapel. Maybe a lot of the early burials were without durable markers. Most of my forebears were either dirt poor or in type of work houses.

[@RhettyforHistory]

I'm sure there are some in there without markers. This chapel really was beautiful. Thank you for watching my friend.

[@TheGraveyardChannel]

Those church ruins are really nice. Too bad they aren't doing more to preserve it. At least you are preserving it on video. Another great find!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thanks Steve! This was really great to see. If you come thru on I-40 or route 66 you'll pass by Santa Rosa . You just have to go a little off of there to get to this.

[@mikeestes8455]

Another cool video! Glad we got to see this old chapel before it is totally gone. Can you imagine how long it took to place all of the individual rocks in the walls...WOW! Great job! Connie & Mike......

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you Connie and Mike! There is no telling how long it took. I'm sure they were really skilled but it looks labor intensive.

[@AmWestColl]

Another very interesting cemetery. I really like the concrete or marble slab covers.....protects the grave site.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you Ron! I love those graves as well. The cemetery and chapel was very picturesque.

[@letsgo1166]

Very interesting. The chapel and cemetery are so pretty.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Yes they are Deb. I've never seen another cemetery like this one and it's so different than what I'm used to seeing. Thank you for watching!

[@marlenecentrella9793]

Never seen cement over the graves. Wow nice video. Thanks for sharing. Stay Safe.🌹💜

[@nadiazahroon6573]

Hi Rhetty. I visited Neil Armstrong's daughter's grave and left an Easter Lamb.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Oh that's awesome! I'm glad you did that!

[@marypettyfer4640]

That was a nice thing to do 😊☺

[@nadiazahroon6573]

Mary Pettyfer it was my pleasure

[@nadiazahroon6573]

RhettyforFun she has no one here. Her brothers live out of state. It was my pleasure.

[@cwb0051]

Awesome..Thanks for taking us along, love these old ruins, boy If Only those old stone walls could talk..

[@RhettyforHistory]

Oh you're right! I'm sure a lot of memories were made in that chapel for that community. Thanks for commenting and watching.

[@danielc5205]

The genre of history I enjoy the most is the 19th and 20th century stuff.

[@RhettyforHistory]

That's what I love most as well Daniel.

[@mikelaughlin4789]

Great rhetty! Can just imagine all the life, good and bad, happy and sad, that happened around that old west catholic chapel through the years.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you Mike! You're right I'm sure that little chapel held a lot of memories in that community.

[@marypettyfer4640]

On your instagram you showed us before pictures thankyou for that. Another great video thankyou so much 😚😚

[@AViewFromTheMiddle]

That's a cool place. I think New Mexico has a lot of places like that. Not really abandoned, but ruins of places still standing. That repurposed sign was kind of funny, but it shows some folks just did what they had to do. They just didn't think to use the other side of the sign.

[@RhettyforHistory]

You're right about New Mexico having a lot of ruins. It's all over the place. I love seeing those and it makes curious on the stories who was there. It didn't connect with me at the time of filming but that sign had the name Giddings on it and that was a grave that I featured earlier in the video.

[@psleep4255]

Thank you again for a lovely visit to another cemetery with a chapel. It seems a bit odd to say lovely but that’s how it feels to me. One thing you mentioned was not walking on the cement markers around the graves. Something I struggle with is when walking through cemeteries is if it’s acceptable to walk across a grave. I always try to be respectful when walking around a grave but sometimes there are so many graves it’s hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. You seem to know a lot about cemeteries, is it disrespectful to walk across someone’s grave? This was a really amazing cemetery. Have a great weekend.

[@RhettyforHistory]

There are differing opinions on that subject matter of walking on graves. I personally do not think so. That way of thinking is relatively recent. In the late 1800's and early 1900's people would have picnics in the cemeteries and they would sort of be like parks. For some reason many people have changed. But it's all personal believes though. I am not a fan of sitting on a headstone or leaning on it. I'm also not a fan of doing rubbings or scrubbing them down cleaning them. But you will see others do rubbings and scrubbings. These markers and graves are there because the family and the deceased wanted to be remembered. You visiting is doing that. What most people fail to realize is ground maintenance drives tractors over it. They walk and edge over it. Pry markers up over it. Pull markers up so they can drive a tractor over it. Cut and trim trees over it. It's really unavoidable. This particular instance I didnt want to step on the concrete border which I'm against and I didn't want to touch the building. All of those in there were pretty old. Thanks for the comment. As long as you are showing respect I believe it's all good.

[@psleep4255]

RhettyforFun goodness I never realized all those differing reasons for walking over a grave. You’re right, I’m respectful as I can be while learning about history. Ty

[@RhettyforHistory]

It's interesting but there are so many cultures out there and especially so in America. Each cemetery is different and the beliefs are different as well.

[@ALRIGHTYTHEN.]

I thought it was odd that the graves were in front of the church. It makes more sense once you see that the cemetery opened after the relocation.

[@RhettyforHistory]

There are some cemeteries in NM where the graves are in the front. Seems to be the style. In Oklahoma they tend to be behind and other parts of the country they seem to be to the side.

[@stephenwilliams507]

I really love your cemetery videos

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you Stephen. I'm glad you enjoy them.

[@sherrycambridge1531]

Dang Boy Howdy Man, You Are Just All Over The Place !! Glad I Found Your Channel !!!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you M RS. I'm not all over yet but I sure plan to be and I'm happy you found my channel as well. Thanks for watching!

[@sherrycambridge1531]

@@RhettyforHistory You Are Very Welcome !!

[@jodysappington7008]

enjoyed the video...have a nice week-end

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you Jody! I appreciate you watching. I hope you have a nice weekend as well.

[@ebe5179]

Thank you excellent video and yes you are pronuciating the names correctly.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thanks for verifying Esmeralda. I was really trying to get them right and be respectful. I loved this little cemetery. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@dianemorgan5482]

Another nice video.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you Diane!

[@DenitaArnold]

It's so nice to visit old graveyard. Wish I was still able to do it

[@RhettyforHistory]

I do like seeing them. Thanks for joining me on this one!

[@swansfan6944]

Very cool video. It looks like a very nice, quiet little town. It’s definitely dry there. We have those fences around graves here in Australia as well, on the extremely old graves, from long ago. ❤️ Jodie 🇦🇺

[@RhettyforHistory]

Sometimes those fences are merely decoration or to mark the plot area but the do serve a purpose which is to keep livestock out so the damage chances are lessened. Thank you for watching!

[@swansfan6944]

@@RhettyforHistory would definitely be a good idea to keep livestock out. Every cemetery I have seen in Australia, there hasn’t been any livestock though (not anymore anyway, don’t know if there used to be) They also don’t use them anymore, seem to be a thing of long ago.

[@RhettyforHistory]

So cattle ranches aren't really a thing there or never were?

[@swansfan6944]

@@RhettyforHistory yes they are here, but they are called cattle stations. There is none around the area I live in. I just googled it for you, and it says: in Australia a large land holding used for livestock production is known as a station. This originally referred to the main residence and outbuildings of a pastoral property but now generally refers to the whole land holding. All of the largest pastoral leases are located in the states of South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The vast majority are cattle stations, with no sheep stations among the ten largest. ( I’m in New South Wales) have never seen a cattle station. Those fences around the graves I have seen in a lot of country towns, but not many cemeteries around where I live.

[@RhettyforHistory]

That's interesting. A lot of the big cities you may not see cattle but at some point there were around so you can see evidence of them.

[@greghall4113]

Love these videos. Wish u were here to check out these old cemeteries in S.C.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thanks Greg! I wish I was there as well. I've been there before cemetery exploring but it was twenty years ago. It's definitely a state I want to go back to for that. I know Charleston has some interesting ones. Do you know of others I should visit?

[@greghall4113]

Here in Abbeville there are lots of cemeteries that are dated back to the early 1770s. The French Huganots made their homes and cemeteries and some monuments. Look up Abbeville. They call it the birthplace of the confederacy.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Wow! That's very interesting. I didn't know any of that. I would definitely love to cover that history!

[@sandystevens8040]

Interesting facts 💦

[@sallykohorst8803]

Hey great you got picture of the church as it once was.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Yes it is. The new church is right down the road but I still love this little one. Thank you for watching!

[@ernestopadilla5156]

Gracias amigo por tus videos interesantes lugares y personas de la historia solo que no entiendo el idioma seria muy interesante poder entender lo que explicas

[@abandonedtnhistory7488]

I've been sharing/talking about your channel, hopefully you've gotten a few subscribers out of it. Take care Rhett!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you my friend! It's been growing somehow so I think you're helping. I appreciate that!

[@abandonedtnhistory7488]

@@RhettyforHistory No problem! If you're ever around the Nashville area of Tennessee I can show you a few cool historical places for your videos, just let me know.

[@RhettyforHistory]

It's been awhile since I have been out that way. We would love to go back. Last time we were there I didn't have this channel and we were only taking photos.

[@earthgirl7861]

Very cool

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you Jennifer!

[@gregelliott5016]

This one is nicer than the other one I commented on earlier

[@RhettyforHistory]

Yes this one is well maintained by the church right down the road. The families appear to be really active as well.

[@gregelliott5016]

Well hopefully they can keep up the maintenance so it'll remain something people can enjoy looking at and walking through

[@tabbycatt6076]

I'm just now putting this on the TV better to watch but I wanted to comment first 😁

[@RhettyforHistory]

That would be a good place to watch it. You can see it much better. I'll have quite a few videos out in this area coming up and some of them may look great on a TV. Thanks for watching Tabby.

[@tabbycatt6076]

@@RhettyforHistory it was so much better watching on my TV 😊what a beautiful cemetery!! So glad it's still mantained.

[@RhettyforHistory]

I loved this cemetery. Truly one of the most memorable that I have been in.

[@thisoldnurse1521]

What is with the fencing around the graves? Are they worried that someone is going to escape ? lol

[@RhettyforHistory]

No the fencing goes back to when cattle were grazing and roaming. They are super lazy. They will lean up against things to scratch or even just because they don't want to stand. The fence keeps them from getting in and doing damage to the marker or grave.

[@julzmgrforll7278]

Actually the iron fence around a grave I'd to keep the dead fromleaving the grave. Most of new mexico is Catholic to this day. The cattle would have been kept out with fence or mesquet (spelling?) Bushes or just what can be afforded to try to keep them out. I grew up in tucumcari. I forgot how beautiful new mexico is. Thank you for sharing!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you Julz. I know we saw a lot of signs warning us of cattle but yet I really didn't see many. Not like Oklahoma and Texas anyway. In Texas and Oklahoma it's placed there to keep the cattle out. There will always be an outer fence or even the mesquite tree but the fences on the inside were like a second defense. Those cattle will bust fences sometimes. Thanks for sharing what you know about New Mexico. I really love it there and it is beautiful!

[@ebe5179]

Actually we fence the graves to show other people economic status,as you can see there are graves that doesn't have fence that means that their family don't have enough money. Sadly but even in death people think that way.

[@RhettyforHistory]

That is true and it's the same in Oklahoma as well. The unfortunate thing is that you will see older headstones damaged from cattle because the families just don't have the money. So far I've never seen a cemetery where each individual grave is fenced.

[@elizabethhonce1677]

It's a Catholic Church. We have altars, not pulpits. ❤️ your channel. The "religious figure" is St. Anthony of Padua holding the Baby Jesus.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you for helping out on some of that and filling me and all of us in.

[@amandahill5763]

There might be another cemetery that you may like to visit its at Grady New Mexico there is another one that is called Bellview Nm cemetery

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you! I may have to check those out next time I'm out that way.

[@edwinleyba7510]

While in Santa Rosa, did you get a chance to go to Fort Sumner to check out Billy the kid grave, personally I don't think that where he buried. Nice video keep up the good work.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Yes I did. I will have one more video that I will release before Billy the Kid but I will have it soon. I believe that he is in the cemetery but as far as that exact location I doubt it. It's too perfectly placed and when you read up on it they really don't know where. But you could be right about his exact location being unknown and he may not be in that cemetery at all. I wanted to cover him just because of how legendary he was.

[@dustysadventures]

Cool little cemetery

[@RhettyforHistory]

Yes it is. I'm pretty sure I accidentally saw a cache too.

[@dustysadventures]

@@RhettyforHistory I must have been way to tired when I watched this. I didn't even think about a cache being in there. Of course there is one. It looks like it's probably in the corner of the fence.

[@RhettyforHistory]

I don't always run into them but this one I did.

[@dustysadventures]

@@RhettyforHistory that's awesome. You need to sign up and start signing the logs.

[@RhettyforHistory]

It would be fun. I'm worried I may end up doing that and skipping videos though.

[@courtneyhall7140]

well done.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Thank you Courtney!

[@courtneyhall7140]

@@RhettyforHistory hey rett,if you are ever in the nashville area let me know.we have some really historic places here.i would be more than glad to show you around.

[@pearlharbour3300]

strange part of earths population fear death while another celebrate the passing.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Last survey I checked said we all die. No reason to fear it. Embrace it as it is part of life.

[@abelromero4373]

There is an old mining town callwd santa Rita NM. The church is still well taken care of. Ive been out there one. Its really in the middle of nowhere. Out by Reilly NM. Anothet lil old mining town. Dont think i spelled that right. Closed to Magdalena NM.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Those sound worth checking out! I love these little towns in NM.

[@elizabemagnaye1874]

Is this cemetery being maintained still?

[@marypozzi5297]

They are so beautiful most of them anyway most of them look really old

[@RhettyforHistory]

Most of them were really old. I'm not sure when that old black and white photo was taken but you can see that grave with the angel in it. I really loved finding this cemetery. Thanks for watching Mary.

[@marypettyfer4640]

Hello there 🙋🙋😚

[@RhettyforHistory]

Hello Mary!!🙂👋👋

[@cathymcdonell7605]

I love old US history . And from Northeastern Ohio Maybe you can help me with something I alway wonder about since I very young was watching the old western with my dad on TV, Seem a lot of people died coming out west and were buried without markers and in the middle of no where back then , Their remains must have been found at some point . Did they rebury them.? My Dad also thought I was crazy for wanting to know this

[@RhettyforHistory]

Depends on how they were buried and where. If it was a shallow grave something could have dug them up or the bones disintegrated by the time someone could have found them. But just depends on where they were. I know there have been cases where they were found and moved. Santa Fe had things like that happen.

[@cathymcdonell7605]

@@RhettyforHistorythank you for the fast reply. We have some cool old cemeteries here in Ohio , Johnsons Island which was a civil war prison camp and the great lake island .

[@RhettyforHistory]

Oh wow! That sounds like that cemetery would be a cool explore!

[@teresadale3130]

Makes you wonder the purpose of the cement/marble slabs is.

[@RhettyforHistory]

My guess is maybe to keep goats or cattle off the top of the grave? My second guess would be just to keep plant growth off of them? The graves at the back of the chapel had a lot more growth. Very interesting to see though. Thanks for joining me on this adventure Teresa!

[@kathycole4474]

Love the old chapel..looks like one from Young Guns.2 ..when Doc gets shot.....pretty cool

[@RhettyforHistory]

It is a pretty neat piece of history sitting in the middle of the cemetery. Thank you for watching Kathy!

[@whatsthedealwithdanny3913]

I think there is a Celcia Baca with Billy the Kid in some way.. Not sure how close this is to Fort Sumner new Mexico. Probably not.

[@RhettyforHistory]

This is straight north about an hour or so.

[@janisoconnor6881]

If there is a new chapel down the road it might have a picture of what the old one looked like,

[@RhettyforHistory]

Nothing at all out that way.

[@arturopalos2739]

Santa Rosa de Lima

[@flournoymason8961]

Wonder why they let the Chapel go like that?

[@RhettyforHistory]

They built a new chapel right down the road.

[@ThatOldBiddy]

Are you guys contributors to "Find a Grave.com"? You would be such an asset to that effort.

[@RhettyforHistory]

Yes we are. Thank you for watching!

[@elizabemagnaye1874]

A funeral home across from a cemetery ? That's first. I guess they can walk no need for a cortege car.

[@gypsytreasures3856]

What are you doing so far away from home? Get home!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Haha! Every so often I venture out and away! I'm just trying to add a new state.

[@lorieawaitley7662]

I Am Sure Viewers Would Like To Hear About Sam Clemens Mark Twain Life APR 15th '20 11:40 AM 🇺🇸😎🎩🕶🎥