Established in 1851 near the Texas Capitol in East Austin, the Texas State Cemetery functions as the official burial ground of the State of Texas, reserved for governors, lieutenant governors, legislators, judges, other elected and appointed state officials, and veterans, along with cultural figures such as authors, artists, and scholars whose contributions the state has chosen to honor. Burial there is not automatic; it is granted through eligibility rules administered by the Texas State Cemetery Committee and the Texas State Preservation Board, typically extended to statewide officeholders, long-serving legislators, and other honorees approved by the governor or legislature. Beyond serving as an active burial site, with roughly 3,200 interments and additional reserved plots, the cemetery is used for state ceremonial functions, including funerals with military and civic honors, wreath-laying observances, and commemorations tied to Texas history. Today the grounds are maintained as a landscaped, park-like cemetery with monuments, a visitor center, and self-guided and staff-led tours, drawing tens of thousands of visitors annually, including school groups studying Texas history. It continues to accept new burials of qualifying officials and honorees, making it a living institution rather than a purely historical site, while also functioning as a public memorial park where residents and tourists walk the grounds, view notable graves such as those of Stephen F. Austin and numerous governors, and attend commemorative programs held throughout the year.