Several New York cemeteries will be offering guided cemetery tours during the month of September.
Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester will be offering “Deciphering the Hidden Messages of Cemetery Symbolism” on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 11 a.m. Explore the meaning of symbols, epitaphs, and funerary art that tell a story about the person buried there, and what they tell us about Victorians’ view of life, death, and rebirth.
There will also be a tour, “Geology of Mount Hope Cemetery” on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 11 a.m. A University of Rochester professor of geology leads this fascinating tour that reveals how the glaciers formed the dramatic landscape of Mount Hope.
Tickets for tours are $15 and children under 18 are free is accompanied by an adult. For more information, go to: https://fomh.org/tours-events/tours/
Walton Historical Society will host “If Gravestones Could Talk,” a living history cemetery tour at the Walton Cemetery on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 1 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. Eight prominent residents will be portrayed. Cost is $10 per person and participants can either walk or take a trolley. To purchase tickets or for more information, go to the Walton Historical Society website at: https://www.waltonhistoricalsociety.org/
Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn offers a variety of tours in September. Some of the tours being offered include:
Stars of the Stage and Screen Trolley Tour – Saturday, Sept. 14 – 10 a.m. – On this trolley tour we’ll step back in time and encounter the actors, producers, composers, and directors that left their mark on entertainment history.
Secrets in Stone – Sunday, Sept. 15 – noon – Etched in centuries-old monuments, you’ll encounter inverted torches, hourglasses with wings, and empty beds. What does it all mean? This walking tour will showcase these curious depictions and let you in on the meaning of these eternal, though often cryptic, symbols.
Far Side of Green-Wood Trolley Tour – Saturday, Sept. 28 – 10 a.m. – This special trolley tour showcases the fascinating personalities of permanent residents interred along Green-Wood’s southern side. You’ll hear about scions of famed toy store founder FAO Schwarz; Frank Morgan, who played the wizard in “The Wizard of Oz;” Charles Feltman, inventor of the hot dog; and many more!
Prices are $25 for members and $30 for non-members. To register for any of the tours, go to: https://www.green-wood.com/calendar/
Explore Buffalo will offer several cemetery tours in September:
Concordia Cemetery – Sept. 11, 21 and 25 – Concordia was founded in 1859 and is one of the oldest cemeteries in Western New York. After being abandoned in 2001, the cemetery is now maintained by a group of volunteers. Learn about the history of the cemetery and the stories of some of the incredible individuals and families buried there.
United German and French Cemetery – Sept. 12,13, 14, 21 and 26 – Hear colorful stories of Buffalo’s rich brewing history at the United German & French Cemetery. You will also hear stories about maltsters, distillers, Prohibition figures, and the origin stories of some of our iconic food.
Jewish Cemeteries – Monday, Sept. 16 – 11 a.m. – Visiting these cemeteries provides a look at the growth and evolution of Buffalo’s Jewish community, as synagogues were formed, grew, and in some cases, merged back together. Some of the symbolism and design features found within the cemeteries will be discussed – both on individual monuments, as well as of the cemeteries themselves.
Tickets are $18 general admission. For more information, go to: https://explorebuffalo.org/calendar/
Check out our links to cemetery indexes and cemetery records at: https://www.newyorkgenlinks.com/localcemeteries/
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