Niches

The original Columbarium “Silver Star” was placed September of 1989 with Phase 2 Mt. Adams and St. Helens added in March of 1996. Phase 3 Mt. Hood and Olympic were added in 2015. There is a total of 480 niches – 96 per wall, 48 facing North / 48 facing South. The Niches are sold as single or double, inscriptions can be completed at time of burial or at time of purchase. Vases set in flower beds surrounding niche walls. It is estimated that niche availability in the existing niche walls will be exhausted by 2025. Construction of two additional niche walls will provide another 192 niches. The City hopes to add these projects to future capital improvement plan.

Policy on Niche Wall Inscriptions: Three lines of text are allowed for all niche inscriptions. The last name will be inscribed on the first line, the first name and middle name or middle initial will be inscribed underneath the last name on the second line, and the years of birth and death will be inscribed on the third line. Thirteen spaces are allowed for the first name and middle name or initial. If space allows military service can be identified, with approval of the Cemetery Board, on the second line after the first name. 

Lettering is Monument Condensed Roman, and measurements are as follows:

Double Niche:
Last name: 1 – ¼” high
First name: 1” high
Dates: ¾” high

Single Niche:
Last name: 1” high
First name: 1” high
Dates: ¾” high 

Only lettering as formatted will be allowed on the niche wall. No emblems, plaques or decorations of any kind will be allowed on the niche wall. This formatting will apply to all niche walls, existing and future, in the Washougal Memorial Cemetery.