Living History Cemetery Tours

I remember when I was younger my mom took my siblings and me to one of the local cemeteries.  When we got there, my old kindergarten teacher was at the gate dresses in a Civil War era dress greeting everyone who walked in (she was very interested in Abe Lincoln and after she retired she would visit area schools and the local historical society and teach about him).

Scattered throughout one or two of the older sections of the cemetery were men dressed as Civil War soldiers who would give an account of actual veterans buried there.  They told about their lives and the battles they saw and what happened to them after the war (if they survived, that is).  Now, about fifteen years later, don't remember exact details about their lives but I remember realizing that the Civil War was an actual event that involved real people who lived in my town.  They were buried right there.  I was already interested in the Civil War because of my kindergarten teacher but I remember that as one of the moments that solidified my interest in history, specifically  military history.

Similar living history cemetery tours are not uncommon.  A simple Google search brings up events from all over the country.  Some are held around Halloween. Some are summer events.  Some specifically feature a certain era or event like the Civil War.  Others may tell stories about individuals linked to a local famous (or infamous) person.

Libraries and local archives typically contain a wealth of knowledge about the history of the city where they are located.  Even a collection of newspapers can shed light on past events and people.  Librarians and archivists can partner with a local historical society or community theater to host a cemetery tour and call for volunteers.  It could also be advantageous to partner with a local school - either high school or college.  The students could research individuals buried in the cemetery and then compose a brief biography to memorize and portray.  The event would have its volunteers while teaching students about how to use a library and/or an archive to research.  The students or other volunteers can then share what they learned with their friends and families.

This kind of an event also teaches people about the place where they live and can encourage the community to invest in it.  Cool things have happened everywhere but not everyone knows about them!