Preserving Maine's Historic Cemeteries for Future Generations

Every cemetery tells the story of a community. From early family burying grounds to village cemeteries and municipal burial grounds, Maine's cemeteries preserve the names, relationships, military service, craftsmanship, and history of the people who built our towns and state.

The Maine Old Cemetery Association (MOCA) is dedicated to ensuring these irreplaceable resources are preserved, documented, and understood for generations to come.

Why Old Cemeteries Matter

Historic cemeteries are more than places of remembrance. They are:

• Outdoor museums of art, symbolism, and stone carving
• Genealogical and family history resources
• Records of military service and community history
• Important archaeological and cultural landscapes
• Places of education, reflection, and remembrance

As weather, neglect, development, and the passage of time threaten these resources, documenting and preserving them becomes increasingly important.

How MOCA Fulfills Its Mission

MOCA works throughout Maine by supporting individuals, organizations, and communities through:

Preservation - Helping communities care for historic cemeteries using appropriate preservation practices that respect both the cemetery and those buried there.

Education - Providing workshops, publications, presentations, and educational resources on cemetery preservation, gravestone conservation, research, documentation, and Maine cemetery history.

Documentation - Encouraging the recording of cemeteries, gravestone inscriptions, photographs, maps, and historical information to preserve valuable records for future researchers.

Research - Supporting genealogy, local history, military history, and cemetery research through member collaboration and shared resources.

Advocacy - Promoting public awareness of the historical significance of old cemeteries and encouraging their protection through responsible stewardship.

Community - Connecting volunteers, cemetery stewards, historians, genealogists, municipalities, historical societies, and preservation professionals who share an interest in Maine's historic cemeteries.

Our Vision

We envision a future in which every historic cemetery in Maine is respected, documented, and cared for, and where the information preserved in those cemeteries remains accessible to future generations.

Through education, collaboration, and responsible stewardship, MOCA strives to inspire appreciation for these remarkable places and the stories they tell.

Join Our Mission

Whether you maintain a local cemetery, research family history, volunteer with a historical society, or simply appreciate Maine's heritage, you can help preserve these irreplaceable places.

Become a member, volunteer with a project, attend a workshop, or support MOCA through a donation. Together, we can ensure that Maine's historic cemeteries continue to educate and inspire future generations.