I recently spent a beautiful afternoon with eighth graders learning about gravestone symbolism in the Woodlawn Cemetery, Sparta, WI.  I appreciate how fascinated they are about the meaning behind symbols, like clasped hands, and shapes, like the lamb, and what they once meant to the people who chose to include them on the gravemarkers of their loved ones.

Twenty-five folks came to the Cemetery Preservation and Gravestone Cleaning workshop at the Goodhue Historical Society in Red Wing, MN, last week.  The first half of the day was spent inside (where it was dry) learning about topics like preservation ethics, gravestone symbolism, and lichen growth.  The second half of the workshop was in the field cleaning gravestones.  Even though it was a steady rain all day, at least 15 of the participants tried their hand at cleaning gravestones.  Hey--it sure made it easy to keep the gravestones wet the whole time!

Save Your Stones: Tombstone Preservation and Hands-on Workshop, 

​May 20 @ 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Learn how to Preserve and Restore Tombstones!
Jarrod Roll, founder of Save Your Stones and a local history professional, will lead a full day workshop on tombstone preservation and restoration. Participants will receive their own preservation kit (a$25 value), and lunch is included in the program cost. The program consists of a presentation at the History Center, followed by a hands-on workshop at Oakwood Cemetery in Red Wing. Cemetery professionals, genealogy enthusiasts, and local history buffs won’t want to miss this engaging and informative program.

Saturday, May 20th, 9 AM-3 PM
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Registration, through Red Wing Community Education, is $38 per person and includes a professional preservation kit and lunch.

Register HERE: https://goodhuecountyhistory.org/event/save-your-stones-tombstone-preservation-and-hands-on-workshop/