Our exhibit “Sacred to the Memory: Gravestone Symbols in
Bossier Parish Cemeteries” is back for the fall season. The display cases in the Historical Center will
feature the exhibit through November. Although not as widely publicized as
the cities of the dead in New Orleans and South Louisiana, the graveyards of
North Louisiana are equally fascinating due to the wide range of tombstone
symbols and imagery.
Plain Dealing Cemetery grave of John Gayle
Gravestones reflect the culture of the people who produce and
erect them. Nineteenth and twentieth
century monuments in Bossier Parish contain symbols that were recognizable to
the people of the past, but the meanings are no longer as familiar. This
exhibit shows how tombstones in our area cemeteries can give us clues about the
age, birthplace, family bonds, religious affiliation, clubs and social
organizations, and military service of the deceased.
As the weather starts to cool down, plan a visit to some of
our local cemeteries and see the gravestone symbols for yourself. Please check on hours and be respectful of
any regulations. Don’t forget to take one of our handouts with you so you can
easily identify the symbols you may see. If you are searching for specific
ancestors, check Clif Cardin’s book Bossier
Parish Headstones: A Complete Inventory of All Known Cemeteries, Family Plots,
and Lone Burials. It is available at all Bossier Parish Library branches,
including here at the Historical Center.