Bosque Bello is the City of Fernandina Beach’s
only municipal cemetery.
Founded by the Spanish in 1798, its name means
“Beautiful Woods.”
Recent storms, age, vandalism and benign neglect have taken a toll on Bosque Bello Cemetery. Local residents from a variety of backgrounds make up the Friends of Bosque Bello (FOBB), a non-profit volunteer organization formed to advocate for and organize the restoration, maintenance, documentation and enhancement of the cemetery in following through with recommendations adopted by the Fernandina Beach City Commission in the Bosque Bello Master Plan (2015).
Background photo credit: Sarah Moore Booker
Bosque Bello Cemetery is located on 29 acres adjacent to Old Town Fernandina on the north end of Amelia Island.
Address: 1321 N. 14th Street
Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
About Us
Founded in 2018, The Friends of Bosque Bello is a branch of The Amelia Island Fernandina Restoration Foundation which is a 501(c)3 (non profit) with the mission of promoting the preservation of the architectural, historical and archaeological heritage of Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach through advocacy, education and historic property stewardship. This partnership allows the Friends group to accept tax deductible contributions toward capital projects.
The Friends of Bosque Bello have identified six areas of focus including:
Preservation & Restoration
Planning and implementation of a monument conservation strategy
Security
Physical site security and awareness of natural and manmade threats
Maintenance
General maintenance of grounds, infrastructure, and monuments
Tree & Landscape Management
Tree canopy preservation strategies and replanting program
Documentation
Photographic documentation of each gravesite to be added to database
Columbarium
Planning, design, and implementing the introduction of a columbaria to provide additional interment options and provide additional revenue
Events/ Activities/ News
Have you always wanted to know who resides at Bosque Bello Cemetery?
The guided tour at Bosque Bello Cemetery, presented by the Amelia Island Genealogical Society and the Amelia Island Museum of History, offers a unique chance to learn about the lives and stories of notable past residents of Fernandina.
You will be escorted to 8 different gravesites where Costumed Interpreters will share the tales of these individuals (including one or two who are actual relatives).
Here are some key details about the event:
The tour is on Saturday, October 14, 2023, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Tickets are $25 per person
The tour is expected to take approximately 1 ½ hours.
Please be aware that due to the terrain at Bosque Bello, the tour might not be wheelchair accessible or suitable for those using walkers.
If you are interested in learning more about the history of the area and the lives of its past residents, this event is an excellent opportunity to do so. It's a chance to connect with history and gain insight into our local community's heritage.
Webinar: Caring for Florida’s Historic Cemeteries
Join the Division of Historical Resources and the Florida Public Archaeology Network on Tuesday, May 24, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., for a free virtual panel discussion, via Zoom, on caring for Florida’s historic cemeteries.
Staff from DHR and FPAN will discuss resources and methodologies for researching historic cemeteries, best practices in caring for historic cemeteries, and the goals of the Florida Historic Cemetery Inventory (https://FPAN.US/HCI).
Attendees are encouraged to interact with panelists as part of the moderated discussion. This program is held in conjunction with the Division of Historical Resources’ 2022 Historic Preservation Month theme “Caring for Florida’s Historic Cemeteries.”
FBCC votes 3-2 to kill progress on Bosque Bello columbarium plan
March 3, 2021
Atlas Preservation 48 State Tour: Restoring America’s Cemeteries
On September 30th 2020, Jonathan Appell from Atlas Preservation conducted a free workshop demonstration of monument conservation techniques.
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Contact Us
Have a question or want to learn more about the Friends of Bosque Bello
Email us at: friendsofbosquebello@gmail.com
Donate
If you would like to make a donation to the Friends of Bosque Bello, please mail a check made out to:
The Amelia Island Fernandina Restoration Foundation
PO Box 7
Fernandina Beach, Florida 32035
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Thank you for your interest in preserving Bosque Bello Cemetery!
© 2021 Friends of Bosque Bello
