How To's of Cemetery Preservation

The unfortunate truth about the preservation of burial sites is that it often appears to be a losing battle. Sandstone, limestone, marble, and even granite are not impervious to the forces of the outside world. There is also no realistic way of building a plastic bubble around any site. Therefore, every stone in every site is constantly doing battle with the elements just by simply sitting there, regardless of how straight and sound they appear to be.

Fortunately, preservation means far more than keeping the materials and the gravestones in mint condition. It also means careful documentation of what exists, where it exists, and when it first came to be there. It also means education. Preservation only makes sense if someone is gaining or will someday gain something from the preservation.

A successful preservation project must address each of these functions:
1. Documentation
2. Material Preservation
3. Education