I grew up in South Jersey, but have lived in Colorado since 1985. I considered living elsewhere, but I never found a place I loved as much as here. My wife and I spend a lot of time road-tripping around the inter-mountain West and cemeteries are regular stops of ours. I enjoy the peace, tranquility and solemnity of cemeteries as well as all of the stories they contain.

Much can be learned about a place from its cemetery and visiting them usually results in some online research after we get home. I first started visiting Find A Grave to add an new twist to history papers I was writing, then at some point I found the grave of a friend who died in a car wreck while we were in high school. It had a sweet picture of her too, added by a Find A Grave contributor. It made me want to be more than just a consumer of this site.

I volunteer to take pictures within 15 miles of my house, but there are quite a few contributors in my neck of the woods. The requests tend to be claimed very quickly and its the same three or four cemeteries. Lately, I have been concentrating my efforts in rural, off-the-beaten-path cemeteries where photo requests may never be fulfilled if I don't take them.

I have learned that it is imperative to wear long pants and strong boots because many of the remote cemeteries are unmaintained and rattlesnakes, cactus and other things with thorns and fangs inhabit these places. Nonetheless, it is a great deal of fun and a wonderful way for my wife and I to spend time together.

I grew up in South Jersey, but have lived in Colorado since 1985. I considered living elsewhere, but I never found a place I loved as much as here. My wife and I spend a lot of time road-tripping around the inter-mountain West and cemeteries are regular stops of ours. I enjoy the peace, tranquility and solemnity of cemeteries as well as all of the stories they contain.

Much can be learned about a place from its cemetery and visiting them usually results in some online research after we get home. I first started visiting Find A Grave to add an new twist to history papers I was writing, then at some point I found the grave of a friend who died in a car wreck while we were in high school. It had a sweet picture of her too, added by a Find A Grave contributor. It made me want to be more than just a consumer of this site.

I volunteer to take pictures within 15 miles of my house, but there are quite a few contributors in my neck of the woods. The requests tend to be claimed very quickly and its the same three or four cemeteries. Lately, I have been concentrating my efforts in rural, off-the-beaten-path cemeteries where photo requests may never be fulfilled if I don't take them.

I have learned that it is imperative to wear long pants and strong boots because many of the remote cemeteries are unmaintained and rattlesnakes, cactus and other things with thorns and fangs inhabit these places. Nonetheless, it is a great deal of fun and a wonderful way for my wife and I to spend time together.