The City of Austin’s Oakwood Cemetery presents a new virtual exhibition “Contribuir: The Ancestors of Danny Camacho.” The exhibition debuts online on October 1, 2024, at:
 
“Contribuir: The Ancestors of Danny Camacho” in English
“Contribuir: Los Antepasados ​​de Danny Camacho” en español
 
“Contribuir” will be accompanied by free, in-person events hosted by Save Austin’s Cemeteries.

The in-person events begin with the annual Murder, Mayhem, and Misadventure History Tour on Saturday, October 26, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Oakwood Cemetery, 1601 Navasota St.

A Día de Los Muertos Ceremony starts on Friday, November 1, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. at the Oakwood Chapel, 1601 Navasota St., and then progresses to the Oakwood Annex, 1600 Comal St., for a celebration by family descendants at 7:00 p.m.
 
The Tejano Genealogy Society of Austin researched Danny Camacho’s ancestors and traced them back 10 generations to the 1600s. Some Mexican Americans have unique access to their genealogy as the Mexican Catholic Church published their records online for genealogists to use.

About Danny Camacho
Danny Camacho grew up in the Holly Neighborhood in East Austin on Canterbury Street. His family was active in the neighborhood, fighting to get the Holly Power Plant closed, and helping local youth by opening their home as a safe house. His home was filled with photographs of his ancestors. He helped friends and neighbors in any way he could and was a beloved, benevolent presence in Austin. To date, Danny Camacho has volunteered the most hours of research at the Austin History Center.
 
When the first high-rise hotel was proposed east of I-35 near the Oakwood Cemetery, he got busy researching the history of the cemetery and the people buried there. Danny Camacho discovered in his research that he had six relatives buried in Oakwood Cemetery: his great-grand-uncle, a pair of great-grandparents, a pair of grandparents, and a grand-uncle. He helped found Save Austin’s Cemeteries.