Understanding Symbolism on Maine’s Early Gravestones

Maine’s cemeteries are rich with folk art. Beautifully hand-carved gravestones created by local stonecutters are readily found as you stroll the burial places in use from the colonial period through the end of the 1800s. But what do the gravestone symbols—rising suns, skulls & crossed bones, and pointing fingers—really mean? In this heavily-illustrated presentation, cemetery historian and author Ron Romano describes the “anatomy” of a gravestone, discusses the types of materials found in our burying grounds and explains the meanings of dozens of gravestone images. We’ll explore this topic with some additional context regarding how our cemetery landscapes have evolved over time. Is there a difference between a cemetery and a graveyard? We’ll answer that question in this program!

Presenter Ron Romano is author of five cemetery- and gravestone-themed books. He’s designed tours of twenty historic cemeteries in Maine and beyond. For the past six years he was an officer on the board of the Association for Gravestone Studies, the leading organization in America for cemetery and gravestone studies, and he serves locally on the board of the friends of Portland’s oldest burying ground, Eastern Cemetery (established in 1668).

All programs begin at 6 p.m. and run approximately 60-90 minutes. Registration will open first to MOCA members before being offered to the general public. Participation is limited to the first 100 registrants. While the programs are free, a donation is appreciated. All proceeds will benefit MOCA’s education and training programs.