1. Culture – the perception of death has changed from an inevitable somber event into a celebration of life, sharing of treasured memories and an opportunity to acquaint oneself with long lost friends and relatives (though not without tears).

2. Environs – the construction of bright comforting climate-controlled mausoleums and creation of serene cheerful urn gardens are challenging and supplanting the paradigm that cemeteries need be desolate, melancholy tombstone filled repositories. Many with their picturesque landscapes comprised of “magnificent trees, rolling hills, glacial lakes,” ponds, gorgeous fountains, and even wildlife and museums are “oases amid the sprawl of modern development.”[1]

3. Historical – with their interred, and array of architecture and monuments, cemeteries provide a connection to the past and documentary of the evolution of human history, perceptions, and emotions as captured by the changing architecture ranging from simple, weathered 18th century tombstones, elaborate (sometimes eroding) 19th century mausoleums and sculpted angels and allegorical figures, 20th century rediscovery of simplicity, and 21st century photographic and even interactive (audio and video on demand) tombstones.

4. Financial – To ease its annual operating deficit of $100,000+ Oakwood Cemetery (Troy, NY) held a daffodil brunch in the Gardener Earl Memorial Chapel and Crematorium known for its Siena marble walls and spectacular Tiffany windows, and an outdoor Renaissance Fair featuring knights in armor. Other cemeteries are following the same model and are also building state-of-the-art mausoleums to improve efficiency.

5. Many older cemeteries especially those nearing the end of their active lives as they deplete their available burial space need to reinvent themselves to ensure continued financial viability.

Currently, several schools now even offer cemetery studies and/or have field trips to cemeteries with the objective of encouraging appreciation of the unique historical perspective of a specific place. As a result, Woodlawn Cemetery (Bronx, NY) among others offers “opportunities for students studying Art History, Historic Preservation, Landscape Architecture, Archival Records, American History, American Culture and other related fields.”

According to one teacher, Cara Bafile, the annual class trip to the cemetery has “become a looked forward to tradition [in which some beg to go back].” School trips to the cemetery, though are not new. Back in the early 1970s one of the author’s school field trips was to a local cemetery where every student was in awe of the largest graves as we looked at the various markers for style and age (e.g. what is the oldest tombstone, who lived the longest, etc.).

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