07/18/2026
A cemetery visit is more than finding a headstone—it’s discovering a piece of your family’s story. Because every stone has a story… and every story is worth preserving.
1. Prepare before leaving home.
• Find the exact spot: use resources like Find a Grave or BillionGraves to find the
cemetery, section, and plot number.
• Pack a phone/camera, a notebook, a spray bottle with plain water to clean stone,
and chalk to make engravings visible if needed.
2. Document
• The entrance. Photograph the cemetery sign, document the office phone number
and maps if posted.
• Photograph the entire family plot and landscape to locate later.
• Close up of all sides of the stone. Ensure information on the stone is clear.
• Transcribe stone. Write exact spelling of names and dates on stone, even if you
think it is incorrect. This includes any symbols present.
• Note the neighbors. You never know if they will be important later.
• Record plot data. Section, row, and path taken to reach grave. Use Google Maps
and drop a pin in the location.
• Include the date of visit.
3. Follow-up
• Log the visit. A “Cemetery Visit Log” makes this easy.
• Verify information. While the information found while visiting the cemetery are
helpful, occasionally information can be incorrect. Cross-reference with other
documents to verify all information
