Cemeteries; Reflections Of The Times

 Angel and Cross, Alexandria, Virginia Click to enlarge)

I like cemeteries.  I like to wander about in cemeteries just to see what interesting I can find.  You would be surprised at the gravestones, markers and monuments that can be found in older cemeteries. Especially gravestones dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.  Truly different than anything we see today.

I was fortunate in my last two "careers" to be able to extensively travel throughout the United States.  Whenever possible, I tried to either arrive at my destination a couple of days early or stay a couple of days after business was concluded.  It was then that I would wander around wherever it was I happened to be and look for interesting things to photograph.  One of those interesting things I liked to photograph was cemeteries.  I tried to find the oldest cemetery in the area and pay it a visit.

Cemeteries, and the memorials contained within, are a reflection of our culture at the time of an individual's death.  When looking at headstones from the 17th and 18th centuries, I am amazed to see skeletons carved into the stone.  Dancing skeletons, no less.  One doesn't see much of that today!  Skulls and crossbones, as well!  I'm not sure something like dancing skeletons or skulls and crossbones would be found acceptable by society today.  Some headstones have hands carved into them.  Some have depiction of a closed fist with the index finger pointing up and others have the finger pointing down.  I wonder if that pointing finger is a reflection on the inhabitants' predicted final destination?  Additionally, interesting epitaphs are prevalent.

I've been to several graves of presidents of the United States.  Some are lavish and others are rather simple.  It seems the newer the presidency, the more lavish the grave.  I wonder if that has to do with an increasing sense of self-importance by our chief executives?  Hmmm.

Dancing Skeletons, Boston, Massachusetts (click to enlarge)

When visiting New Orleans a few years back, I walked over to the St. Louis Cemetery #1 (1789) as well as the St. Louis Cemetery #2 (1823).  In New Orleans, being below sea level, one can't be buried underground.  Everyone is entombed above ground.  The gruesome thing about that is I saw many tombs broken open and the bones of the deceased visible inside.  Not a pleasant thought for the deceased's relatives, I'm sure. There is even a notorious witch entombed in one of these cemeteries.  Graffiti all over the mausoleum.

I find monuments, sculptures and structures that are commercially produced as well as homemade.  All of keen interest to me.  Of course, I think cemeteries look better photographed in black and white as opposed to color, but in some images, color makes the image more dramatic, especially if the image was made in dramatic light.

Homemade memorial, Petersburg, VA (click to enlarge)

I've included a few images of interesting cemeteries in this post, but I have many more in this gallery on my website.  If you think these are interesting, go to the gallery and check those out as well.

Witch's final resting place, New Orleans, Louisiana (click to enlarge)

I'll keep visiting cemeteries and make more images.  One day, I am sure, I'll go to a cemetery and never leave!  My camera surely will still be in my hand when that one way trip arrives.

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

All content on this blog is © 2013-2017 Dennis A. Mook. All Rights Reserved. Feel free to point to this blog from your website with full attribution. Permission may be granted for commercial use. Please contact Mr. Mook to discuss permission to reproduce the blog posts and/or images.