This is a very old cemetery in downtown Ruston, adjacent to the university and high school campuses. It covers several city blocks and has paved driving throughout. A tornado touched down along the north-east corner in early 2019, damaging the road along that side but repairs are underway. The original cemetery along Alabama street was fenced, and the oldest/original section and the historic graves are located there. The entire site is on a hill and many of the graves are terraced.

On 23 July 1886, Robert E. Russ donated and dedicated the original land to be used as a public burial ground. The original deed described the area over which the original burial grounds covered, and also specifically stipulated at the time that no burials could take place there other than those of "the Caucasian or white race."

The original land has been enlarged and extended multiple times since then towards the north. It now covers about 30 acres and contains over 4,000 burials. Officials have stated there are many unmarked and unknown graves. Presently, no plots or lots are available as all of them have been "spoken for."

[Sources: Lincoln Parish History published in 1976 available through Lincoln Parish Library printed or online; City of Ruston website]