Cemeteries – Outdoor Museums of the Forgotten Past
A child’s grave in Elizabethtown, New Mexico.
This Is A Cemetery
(Author Unknown)
Lives are commemorated – deaths are recorded – families are reunited – memories are made tangible – and love is undisguised. This is a cemetery.
Communities accord respect, families bestow reverence, historians seek information, and our heritage is thereby enriched.
Testimonies of devotion, pride, and remembrance are carved in stone to pay warm tribute to accomplishments and to the life – not death – of a loved one.
The cemetery is homeland for family memorials that are a sustaining source of comfort to the living.
A cemetery is a history of people – a perpetual record of yesterday and a sanctuary of peace and quiet today. A cemetery exists because every life is worth loving and remembering – always.
~~
The allure of cemeteries is undeniable. These spaces, often serene and steeped in history, possess a unique magnetism. Whether it’s a deep-seated sense of nostalgia, a fascination with the past, an appreciation for the artistry of the monuments, or simply a burning curiosity, something about these "cities of the dead" draws us in. They stand as silent witnesses to generations gone by, offering glimpses into lives lived, stories untold, and legacies that endure.
The experience can be as simple as a fleeting roadside encounter. Imagine driving along a winding country road when, out of the corner of your eye, a weathered headstone appears through the trees. An irresistible urge takes over, compelling you to stop, to explore, and to connect with the history held within. Parking the car, you approach the old graveyard, a sense of reverence washing over you.
Overgrown weeds and tall grasses often partially obscure the crumbling headstones, creating an atmosphere of forgotten memories. The simple act of observing these timeless monuments sparks a flood of questions. Who were these people? What were their lives like? What joys and sorrows did they experience? Exploring cemeteries – outdoor museums of the forgotten past is a journey into the lives of others.
A small, unassuming sign might offer a clue: "Kreisel Family." You might even recognize the name from the surrounding area. Could these be the long-forgotten ancestors of a local family? The small graveyard, perhaps containing only ten headstones, bears the faint markings of lives lived more than a century ago. The dates etched in stone reveal that these individuals lived through a tumultuous period in history, a time when the region was a war-torn battlefield of the Civil War. Contemplating these unknown faces, you are drawn into their world, pondering their stories, their families, their hopes, and their dreams. Time seems to stand still as you reflect on the lives of those who came before.
Venturing further afield, you might find yourself in a cemetery – outdoor museum of the forgotten past in Cimarron, New Mexico. Here, the names on the headstones might be more familiar, especially if you’ve researched the area’s history. You discover the grave of Henry Lambert, the man who built the historic St. James Hotel, a building now renowned as one of the most haunted places in America. The old saloon, once known as Lambert’s Inn, now serves as the hotel’s dining room. In Cimarron’s wild mining days, the saloon was notorious for the numerous shootings that occurred within its walls, with reports claiming that 26 men were killed there. Legendary figures of the Old West, such as Clay Allison, Black Jack Ketchum, and Buffalo Bill Cody, all left their mark on the St. James, as evidenced by the bullet holes that still pepper the ceiling of the main dining room.
Next to Henry lies his wife, Mary, and nearby, the weathered headstone of his first wife, also named Mary, seemingly forgotten after her death. Henry Lambert was acquainted with many legendary figures of the Old West, including Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Jesse James, and General Sheridan, all of whom signed his historic registers. These cemeteries – outdoor museums of the forgotten past offer glimpses into significant historical events.
As you wander through the cemetery, you might be accompanied by companions who are less enthusiastic about your historical exploration. Rolling eyes and stifled yawns might betray their boredom as you continue your search for recognizable names. But for you, the allure of the past is too strong to resist.
A poignant realization dawns upon you: some of the names that once stood proudly on weathered wooden monuments have been lost to time, leaving no trace of the individuals they represented. Your eyes scan the cemetery, noticing small mounds in the earth where no marker stands at all. Are these also the graves of forgotten ancestors? The thought is both humbling and heartbreaking.
In Central City, Colorado, you might find yourself exploring a collection of cemeteries segregated by ethnicity, religion, and culture. One graveyard, clearly reserved for the more prosperous white families, showcases large and elaborate monuments that tower over smaller, simpler headstones. The stark contrast in memorials highlights the social inequalities that existed even in death. Exploring cemeteries – outdoor museums of the forgotten past reveals the past social inequalities.
While you may not have yet resorted to headstone rubbings, you know that this practice will likely become a part of your graveyard fascination at some point. But what will you do with these rubbings? Would you hang Doc Holliday’s epitaph upon your living room wall, or place Wild Bill Hickok’s engraving in a scrapbook? More likely, they would end up piled in the basement with a growing collection of old bottles, magazines, and other memorabilia from lives lived decades ago. This obsession with the past might seem a bit out of hand, but it’s a passion you can’t deny.
Despite the potential for clutter and the occasional eye roll from companions, you remain captivated by these tangible reminders of our past. The carvings and epitaphs on the headstones offer a glimpse into the lives of individuals who might otherwise be forgotten. These people existed, they were once vibrant and alive, they had wives and husbands who cared for them, children they doted upon, and they lived through ordinary everyday struggles, experiencing both sorrow and happiness during their lifetimes.
Ashes to ashes and dust to dust, you remain confident that you will somehow uncover a hidden secret within these historic and often dignified tombstones. They may be nothing more than a name on a headstone, if the monument has even survived the ravages of time. But, at least for a moment, they are remembered, thought of, if unknown, in the minds of those like you who are drawn to these outdoor history museums. Exploring cemeteries – outdoor museums of the forgotten past is a way of paying homage to our shared human history.
Jesse James Grave in Missouri
They are but a name on a headstone if the monument has survived. But, at least for a moment, they are thought of, if unknown, in the minds of the many like me drawn to these outdoor history museums.
© Kathy Alexander, updated January 2024.
Also See:
- Boot-Hills and Their Stories
- The Sadness of Old Buildings
- Cemeteries Photo Print Gallery
- Ghost Towns of America
