Tombstone Tuesday

So, here's my first Tombstone Tuesday.... and instead of posting tombstone trivia or highlighting a particular grave this week, I thought I'd take the time to list a few of the cemeteries I plan on visiting in the next few weeks. Oakwood is definitely on the list, as I prepare for my next tour. I counted on my way home today, and I passed 3 graveyards in the 11.9 mile route. Those are on my list to swing by. For work, we have at least 2-3 cemeteries on our properties that I've been inquiring about....so stay tuned for some pics of those as well. :-) Happy Tuesday!

The Joy of Rural/Garden Graveyards.....

Doesn't that sound odd? The Joy of Graveyards? To some yes, it might. But to us graveyard enthusiasts.... maybe not. Remember, after the creation of Pere Le Chaise and Mt Auburn, cemeteries were seen as public parks... where couples courted, families strolled...and admission booths and concession stands were found. The Victorian age brought about cemeteries with streams, rolling hills, and a commonality of permanent residents. Benches were placed about the cemetery for reflection, monuments reached toward the sky....and beauty prevailed. Death was no longer feared. Amen!

While many cemeteries have had to do away with these elements due to space constraints, pieces of this trend still remain. Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh is a prime example. Winding roads, hills, benches and amazing monuments from the 1870s abound! Strolling through the cemetery in 2009 provides insight into life from that era. We see obvious symbols of the resident's faith highlighted, symbols of the organizations they belonged to, epitaphs that reflect the way they mourned, and also more subtle reminders of their beliefs in the shapes of their markers. Be it a throw back to Egyptian or Greek or statuary for example that reflects the faith of the decedent, by walking through a cemetery we can learn a lot about the people who roamed this earth before us....

Welcome!

Welcome to the first post of the Graveyard Rabbit of the Triangle, NC! For those of you unfamiliar with Tobacco Road, the Triangle is made up of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill... with many other communities in between!

This blog will focus on the numerous graveyards that are scattered throughout this region. I give tours at Historic Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh...which are primarily based on Monument Art and Symbolism. On occasion I have co-led a Victorian Death and Dying tour as well as a Valentine's Day Romance tour. Historic Oakwood was established in 1869 and is a fine example of a rural/garden cemetery.

Soon I'll be posting photos of interesting monuments from not only this cemetery but others in this area. I look forward to sharing them with you!

Have a great day!