Iowa Remembers
In partnership with the State Association for the Preservation of Iowa Cemeteries (SAPIC), the State Historical Society of Iowa is encouraging every county in the state to hold an “open house” in some of its cemeteries—either pioneer cemeteries (one that has had fewer than 12 burials in the past 50 years) or active cemeteries.
This is in cooperation with America/Iowa 250, our country’s 250th birthday (or “semiquincentennial”).
The most obvious cemeteries to open would be those that have Revolutionary War soldiers’ graves (41 in Iowa) or War of 1812 soldiers’ graves (several thousand in Iowa). However, veterans from any war Iowans fought in would be an educational experience for visitors.
Some towns and counties are taking this a different direction and featuring prominent people of yesteryear who helped build their area.
This can be as simple as having someone “host” the cemetery open house and share any info you have about the person buried; or it can become a full “cemetery walk,” where individuals dress as the person they are portraying and give information about them.
Tell us about your open house so we can get it added to our America 250 calendar.
