Virginia Cemetery Preservation Featured in the Washington Post

Caretaker Vernon Peterson of Rock Hill Cemetery in Loudoun County, Virginia expresses his concerns about the future of this burial ground after his tenure ends in an article published in today's Washington Post. This great piece highlights threats common to cemeteries throughout Virginia. DHR's Tom Klatka describes our agency's efforts to raise awareness through our recent cemetery workshops and other initiatives.

To read the full article, click here. You can also view a gallery of photos from this story.

Register Now for Lynchburg Cemetery Workshop in April!

Cemetery Conservation and Documentation Workshop

April 8-9, 2011
Lynchburg, VA

Learn how to care for historic cemeteries

A workshop for cemetery owners, caretakers, non-profits, and volunteers, presented by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources in partnership with Preservation Virginia.

Friday, April 8, 2011
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Lectures and Presentations
Location: Old City Cemetery, 401 Taylor Street, Lynchburg, VA 24501
Topics include: Researching and Recording Historic Cemeteries, Cleaning and Conservation of Funerary Monuments, Mortuary Archaeology, Funerary Symbolism, Genealogy, and Virginia Burial Law

Saturday, April 9, 2011
9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Hands-on Training
Location: Old City Cemetery, 401 Taylor Street, Lynchburg, VA 24501
Topics include: Marker Condition Assessment, Review of Stone and Masonry Conservation and Cleaning, Using DHR’s Cemetery Recording Form, and, Techniques for Photographing Historic Funerary Monuments, Identification of Symbols used on Markers

Register early! Spaces fill up quickly.
Registration Fee is $40 for Friday only or $60 for both days.
Saturday’s hands-on training is limited to 25 participants.
Deadline for registration is March 31, 2011. No refunds after April 1, 2011.

Both days of the workshop will be held rain or shine.

For registration information, please contact Dee DeRoche at (804) 367-2323 ext. 134.

**UPDATE 4/4/11**
The Saturday portion of the workshop is full, but we are currently able to accept more registrations for Friday's lecture section through Wednesday, 4/7/11. Contact Dee DeRoche directly for details.

Save the Date! Cemetery Workshop in Lynchburg April 8-9, 2011

April 8 & 9: Cemetery Preservation Workshop, Lynchburg: DHR staff will be conducting a two-day cemetery preservation workshop in partnership with Preservation Virginia. Location for the first day of the workshop will be announced. The second day will provide focus on demonstrations and discussions at Old City Cemetery in Lynchburg. Topics will include researching and recording historic cemeteries, following good practices for cleaning and maintaining gravestones, interpreting funerary symbols and iconography, and the proper techniques for photographing monuments and grave markers. Registration for the workshop will begin in March February. More information coming soon.