One of the driving forces of MOCA is the desire to foster interest in the discovery, restoration, and maintenance of Maine's old cemeteries and to assist in the preservation of related historical property, buildings, monuments and artifacts.

Here - and throughout the MOCA site - we share not only the "how", but, more importantly, the "why".

The Importance of Early Graveyards

from "A Graveyard Preservation Primer" by Lynette Strangstad

Unlike most histories, graveyards record the lives of all, signify past existences, and recognize one commonality of us all. The history of rich and poor, famous and infamous alike, is recorded here.

Histories of entire towns may be present only here, and elements of local history may survive here as nowhere else...

Graveyards are often the only record, the only artifacts remaining to tell of lives - of individuals and communities - struggled for, well-lived in the face of sometimes tremendous odds, and finally given up reluctantly or "with peaceful composure