Spend an October day exploring the fascinating art, history, symbolism, and stories hidden in New England’s cemeteries with Brenda Sullivan of the Gravestone Girls.

We’ll begin at the Dartmouth Cultural Center with Welcome to the Graveyard, an illustrated journey through nearly 400 years of cemetery history. Discover why gravestones look the way they do, what familiar symbols and motifs can tell us about the people and beliefs of the past, and how cemetery art and burial traditions have evolved from the earliest New England burying grounds to today.

Following the presentation and a light lunch, we’ll head to historic South Dartmouth Cemetery to put what we’ve learned into practice. With Brenda as our guide, we’ll look closely at gravestones and learn to recognize symbols, carving styles, changing artistic traditions, and the clues they offer about the people and communities they commemorate.

Along the way, we’ll also discover some of the notable people buried in South Dartmouth Cemetery and the stories that connect this historic burial ground to Dartmouth’s past. The walk will unfold around the stones and stories we encounter, with plenty of opportunity for questions, conversation, and discovery.

Come curious. You may never look at a gravestone quite the same way again.

Saturday, October 3 | 10 AM–2 PM
A special half-day program including illustrated presentation, light lunch & guided cemetery exploration

Members $75 | Non-members $85