The Old City Cemetery Center focuses on history, architecture, art, and folk customs of the cemetery.  As the cemetery is unique in the Rio Grande Valley and is modeled after the New Orleans cemetery, it provides a great opportunity to learn about marble art and architecture as well as the history of the people buried there. The folk art customs of the cemetery include “descanos,” homemade nichos, paper art, and silk flower coronas. The Old City Cemetery Center offers permanent exhibition focused on the cemetery, as well as rotating exhibitions focusing on these folk art customs. The Brownsville Historical Association's Day of the Dead programs continue the tradition of the cemetery Day of the Dead customs, as the Historic City Cemetery in Brownsville was one of the original and first places where Day of the Dead was celebrated in the Rio Grande Valley. This old custom has died slowly as some of the families have moved away from the area of the cemetery. 

The Mission of the Old City Cemetery Center is to advance life long learning opportunities about the history, architecture, art, genealogy and folk art customs of the Brownsville Historic City Cemetery and the surrounding Buena Vida Neighborhood through exhibitions, cultural events, and educational programs.

The Vision of the Old City Cemetery Center is to serve as a catalyst for community pride and culture for the Buena Vida Neighborhood and City of Brownsville through the improvement and preservation of the Historic City Cemetery.  Additionally, the Old City Cemetery Center envisions the Historic City Cemetery as a family friendly park and tourist destination in the heart of the Mitte Cultural District.