By the end of the last century, Riverview Cemetery had fallen to mismanagement, neglect and vandalism. A group of dedicated volunteers formed to reclaim and restore this historic treasure, discovering along the way fascinating stories of the people who were buried there and whose lives and work developed and shaped the character of Wilmington during the 19th and 20th centuries.

On January 30, 2009, Friends of Historic Riverview Cemetery, Inc., a 501 c/3 non-profit organization assumed ownership of the cemetery with the mission to operate and maintain Wilmington's

most culturally diverse, non-profit, public cemetery, and to support

its restoration and preservation. Volunteers and community partners are critical to fulfilling this mission.

On July 3, 2012, Riverview Cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior and is recognized as the first Delaware cemetery so honored on its own merit. The National Register is the official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering and culture that are worthy of preservation.