Hand Symbolism on Gravestones
Hand symbolism on gravestones can reveal how our ancestors lived and what they believed. One of the most common gravestone symbols on tombstones is the hand. There are clasped hands, pointing fingers, hands holding objects, and more. Finger Pointing Up Fingers pointing upward indicate that…
The Diaspora of India and BillionGraves
Documenting the diaspora of India with the BillionGraves app is one of the goals of a new genealogical society: The Genealogical Society of India and its Diaspora. It’s something you could help with too! Simply download the BillionGraves app to your smartphone and take photos…
The Candy Bomber
The Candy Bomber was a nickname given to World War II pilot, Colonel Gail S. Halvorsen (1920 – 2021). He became well-known for dropping candy tied to miniature parachutes from his plane to German children in Berlin from 1948 to 1949. Halvorsen was also known…
Westminster Abbey Gravesites
Westminster Abbey gravesites are the final resting places for more than 3,300 notable people. Who can be buried at Westminster Abbey? Someone once said, “I once started to research this very question. But on discovering that the first requirement is that you have to be dead,…
Help Set a World Record!
YOU could help set a world record! How awesome is that!? The Rescuing Our Roots project is attempting to set a world record by documenting gravestones – and we need your help! You are invited to help with these goals: The project was started in…
10 Frequently Asked Questions about BillionGraves
Here are 10 frequently asked questions about BillionGraves. The answers will help you to become a better cemetery photographer, a more efficient data transcriber, and a more effective genealogist! FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT BILLIONGRAVES #1 How can I find a cemetery that still needs to…
35 Victorian Era Cemetery Superstitions
Victorian era cemetery superstitions and traditions help us to better understand the world our ancestors lived in. In our day, we may throw a fancy wedding but during the Victorian era, elaborate funeral customs were all the rage! Many of the cemetery superstitions and traditions…
Discovering Roadside Cemeteries in Autumn
Discovering roadside cemeteries in autumn can be like finding hidden treasure! Fall is one of the best times to take your BillionGraves photo app on the road. The leaves are changing to breathtaking reds and golds, the weather is cooler, and there is less traffic…
BillionGraves Eagle Scout Projects: New Record Set!
Wow!! A record has been set for the most gravestone photos taken with the BillionGraves app during an Eagle Scout project! Adam Stevenson led his group of volunteers in taking an amazing 59,349 photos!! Adam and his volunteers didn’t just break the record – they…
There’s a New Map on the BillionGraves App!
There’s a new map on the BillionGraves app! (Hey, that rhymes!) And YOU are going to love it! The new map on the BillionGraves app has colorful pins for each cemetery. The legend below the map is super helpful! It has different colors to show…
Huge Cemetery Project in the New England States!
There was a huge cemetery project in the New England states this spring! Volunteers showed up with rakes in one hand and cell phones in the other. They cleaned and they took photos of the gravestones with the BillionGraves app on their smartphones to keep…
Breathtaking Italian Cemetery Statues
Breathtaking Italian cemetery statues are a tourist’s delight at Monumental Cemetery of Staglieno in Genoa, Italy! It is one of the largest cemeteries in Europe. This hillside resting place is home to hundreds of sculptures that literally turn it into an outdoor art museum. Many…
