During the Victorian Era (ca. mid-to-late-1800s), there was a fascination with death, creating elaborate rituals and traditions to express grief. Each symbol carved on gravestones, from lambs to a sheaf of wheat, or a pointing finger, hold unique significance.
Friends of Albany Rural Cemetery will host a walking tour exploring gravestone styles, symbols, and motifs from the Victorian era through modern day cemetery customs on Saturday, July 19th.
This tour explores the significance behind some of the most common (and not-so-common) symbols of death and mourning and will also individuals who made an impact on this region in the 19th century.
The tour begins at 10 am on July 19th at the Albany Rural Cemetery Chapel, 68 Cemetery Ave, in Albany, NY.
Tickets are $20 each are available online or at the event.
Read more about cemeteries in New York State, or about Albany Rural Cemetery, or the state’s monuments and statuary.
Photo of a mourning dove cemetery carving in Hague, NY courtesy Shannon Houlihan.
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