Arlington Celebrates 150 Years with Restored Heritage Memorial Grounds

The $400,000 project funded by the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation will open the historic burial site to the public next month.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 1:07am

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph of people walking along paved paths through a verdant cemetery, with soft pools of warm light and color creating a contemplative, dreamlike atmosphere.The restored Arlington Heritage Memorial Grounds offer a peaceful setting to reflect on the city's earliest settlers and their lasting impact.Arlington Today

As Arlington celebrates its 150th anniversary, the city is opening up the recently restored Arlington Heritage Memorial Grounds to the public. The $400,000 project, funded by the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation and local businesses and individuals, has secured the perimeter, added paved walkways, and installed informative plaques to preserve and share the history of Arlington's earliest settlers buried on the grounds.

Why it matters

The Arlington Heritage Memorial Grounds contain the final resting places of Arlington's original inhabitants, including prominent figures like Colonel Middleton Tate Johnson, the "Father of Tarrant County." Restoring and opening up this historic site allows the community to connect with its roots and learn about the people who first called this land home.

The details

The memorial grounds contain three original sections - The Mill Branch Cemetery, The Middleton Tate Johnson Family Cemetery, and the Colored Cemetery. The restoration work included installing fencing to secure the perimeter, adding paved walkways for visitors, and placing informative pedestals with QR codes so people can learn about the history as they explore the grounds.

  • The restoration project was completed about two years ago.
  • The public will be able to visit the grounds for guided tours on Saturday, May 16, 2026 from 11am-2pm.

The players

Arlington Tomorrow Foundation

The nonprofit organization that provided $400,000 in funding for the restoration of the Arlington Heritage Memorial Grounds.

Geraldine Mills

Executive Director of the Arlington Historical Society, who explained that the people buried in the memorial grounds "all played a role in the establishment of our community."

Colonel Middleton Tate Johnson

A prominent Texan known as the "Father of Tarrant County" who is buried in the memorial grounds.

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What they’re saying

“Cemeteries are a great historical archive because they ask the question, 'Who were these people? How did we get started? What did they have to face? In addition to that, it's an educational opportunity for citizens to come and find out where this great city of 400,000 and growing started from.”

— Chaplain Rich Stoglin, Chair of the fundraising committee for the restoration project

“They all played a role in the establishment of our community. Whether the landowner harvesting wheat, corn, and cotton or those who labored as workers, their lives mattered, and they must not be forgotten.”

— Geraldine Mills, Executive Director, Arlington Historical Society

What’s next

The public will be able to visit the restored Arlington Heritage Memorial Grounds for guided tours on Saturday, May 16, 2026 from 11am-2pm.

The takeaway

The restoration and opening of the Arlington Heritage Memorial Grounds is an important opportunity for the community to connect with its roots and learn about the people who first settled this land. By preserving and sharing this historic site, Arlington is honoring the lives and legacies of its earliest inhabitants.