Wednesday, October 28, 2026 · 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Children's Activity Room — 94 State St., Newburyport, MA
“Welcome to the Graveyard” is a 90 minute in-person ‘virtual tour’ chronicling cemetery art, history, and symbolism. From colonial New England burial grounds of the 17th and 18th centuries, through the nation-wide rural cemetery movement of the 19th century into 21st century locations, the program examines why we have cemeteries and gravestones, why they look like they do and how styles and art have evolved over almost 400 years. The presentation is robust with photographs of original gravestones and burial grounds from cemeteries visited by Gravestone Girls over many years, including those from a recent trip to Newburyport to document local stones and spaces specifically for this program. About the Presenters: Gravestone Girls create art pieces from the faces of original New England gravestones and have been working with the art, history and symbolism of cemeteries for more than 30 years. Lifelong Massachusetts residents, they have spent many hours in graveyards all over the world. Gravestone Girls' mission is to "Keep Our Dead Alive" through educational lectures, tours, classes and creation of tombstone replicas. Annually, they work with many institutions nationwide, raising…