Dig In
by Debra J. Richardson
You know where your ancestors are buried. Now you want to go see for yourself. But before you race out in the direction of the nearest graveyard, grab a few essentials. As a veteran of some 350 cemetery visits, I suggest you take five tools, each having met my criteria for successful cemetery trips. While you're at it, grab a partner, your cell phone, and even a picnic lunch- use the basket to haul the following five essential cemetery-visiting items, too.
1. PUT IN ON THE MAP
Before you step out that door, know where you're going. Search cemetery locations by name, county, or state at Epodunk.
Results generate a Google map with pins displaying graveyard locations. Sat your trip will take you across country? Try the Points of Interest website where you can extract an entire file of 100,000 cemeteries nationwide.
But be aware that rural cemeteries tend to produce less accurate GPS results. A cemetery hidden in the middle of a cornfield is still found the old-fashioned way: by asking directions.
2. HISTORY IN HAND
Leave the family tree and take your notes in the form of a family group sheet. Not only is it an invaluable reference aid, it may also alert people to your mission- when groundskeepers, passersby, and fellow cemetery visitors see you consulting your notes, they'll be more apt to strike up conversations. You may be regaled with firsthand tidbits of historical interest or unexpectedly find yourself face-to-face with cousins. Download family group sheets and other family history forms for free at
3. LESS IS MORE
Overzealous attempts to coax Cousin Zelda's inscription from underneath decades of fungi often produce effects opposite to those intended. A spritz of plain water, however, safely highlights worn or shallow inscriptions. Pack a gravesite-tending toolkit: spray bottle, work gloves, and small trimming shears. And realize that while it's tempting to tidy stones with scouring brushes and chemicals, the resulting damage is irreversible. For gravestones in poor condition, consult an expert at a local monument company.
4. PIXEL PERFECT
What's the ultimate cemetery documenting tip? Get the finest camera you can afford. Digital point-and-shoot models work well for capturing images for your family tree program or to email cousins. Upgrade to a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera for really high-resolution images. Close-up features are crucial- you may finally be able to distinguish between “Forever Thine” and “Forever Thin” on that illegible epitaph. Shoot liberally from various angles. Snap overviews of the grounds and adjacent stones- you may later learn relatives are buried nearby. A shot of the cemetery entrance, sign, or directory will reference you visit. And remember that it is a photo op for posterity: don't be shy- get yourself in the picture and pose proudly.
5. CUB REPORTING
Take a journal and pen. Note the date, route, transportation, weather- even the price of gas. Jot down stone inscriptions, condition, and location, along with a general description of the cemetery. Note nearby landmarks. After all, you're on a historic visit to a historical place. Or, to channel Walter Cronkite: the day will be filled with events that will alter and illuminate your family history...and you were there.
