Objective:
Identify an old grave marker and learn about the person it memorializes.
Details:
1) Watch The Fascinating History of Cemeteries from TedEd and How Can Historians Interpret Gravestones and Monuments from Dr Matt Neale.
2) Head to a local graveyard or cemetery. (Keep in mind that you can combine this with the find objective if you’d like, and if so you’ll want to make sure the graveyard contains a geocache or letterbox.)
3) Walk around and examine grave markers, until you find one that is particularly interesting to you. Make sure to choose a marker that is at least 50 years old. Additionally, do not choose the grave of a person you have previous knowledge about.
4) Document your trip with a photo and post it on Instagram or Twitter with the tag #QuestScouts. Alternatively, you can also share your photo in our Facebook group.
5) Do some research to learn about the person whose grave you chose. Dig deep here! If a simple google search doesn’t yield much, try the library or local historical archives.
Let’s say it again for emphasis! This is a research objective, meaning the primary
purpose of this objective is to inspire your to utilize your research skills. Please
put a good amount of time and effort into searching for the history of your grave.
6) In the comments below, share what you learned about your grave and the grave’s occupant. Of course, we’d like to know what you learned about the life of the person buried there. However, it may be the case that even after your extensive research, you cannot find any information directly connected to the name on your grave marker. In either instance, you should be able to make informed inferences based on the marker itself. (Remember How Can Historians Interpret Gravestones and Monuments?)
