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 First established by the Tulocay Cemetery Association as the town "burying ground," the initial cemetery survey was completed early in 1859 with the first sale of lots - $10 each, taking place in April of that year. The name Tulocay was apparently adapted from Rancho Tulocay, Don Cayetano Juarez's 8,800 acre land grant which stretched along the east side of the Napa River. The initial cemetery property involved less than 50 acres of land deeded by Juarez.
When Juarez died in 1883, he was buried on his former land after a funeral service and procession to the cemetery involving scores of townspeople.
In the early years Tulocay - like many cemeteries of the time - was divided so persons of particular religious or ethic backgrounds could be buried together. For example, there was an area set aside for Catholics as well as for the Chinese who in the 1800s had toiled as laborers in the area. Some of the early grave markers reflecting the burial sites of those individuals can still be found at the cemetery.
Grass fires destroyed many of the wooden markers which were originally used. However, numerous stone markers from that era can be seen today.
In reality, Tulocay has been a non-denominational cemetery with members of virtually every faith ever represented in Napa buried there.  Solidly constructed, crypts of affluent families of the past are to be seen as well as manicured grave sites of other Napans of the past.
Since its earliest beginnings, Tulocay has been a non-profit community-based enterprise.
Many well-known Napans have served on the association board including Nathan Coombs, founder of the city of Napa. Minutes of association meetings reflect Napa's history, with a short break in the records of the Civil War years.
Current trustees of Tulocay include James Asbury, William L. Kastner, Greg Bennett, James L. Cassayre, John Imrie, Ed Farver and Kevin Teague. Several have served for more than a decade.
Guiding the day-to-day operations of the cemetery since 1993 is Peter Manasse, Executive Vice President, Funeral Director and Manager; earlier, for 23 years Peter served as a Tulocay trustee.
Thirteen dedicated personnel comprise the cemetery staff.
Where most services for the dead were formerly conducted in local churches, a great many now take place in funeral home chapels and in many instances families of the deceased decline to have any services held. Some last rites only take place at the gravesite.
For many years traditional cemetery graves were the final resting places for the dead. Tulocay's crematory is now used for a large percentage of local deceased.
The cemetery association and staff maintain the grounds and facilities in a dedicated, dignified manner.
All revenue from operations is reinvested in the cemetery, thus assuring it will serve Napa's needs for many generations to come.
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Napa is blessed with a rich heritage thanks to the men and women who for more than a century-and-a-half have been achievers in political and governmental affairs, agriculture, banking and economics, the arts and culture, medicine and education.