Discarded Gravestones
Discarded gravestones on the beach?! You might expect to find seashells, sea glass, driftwood, and such on a beach . . . but gravestones!? Low tides, strong winds, and shifting sands reveal a tragic event in San Francisco’s past – gravestones that were repurposed decades…
Infant Gravestone Symbols
Infant gravestone symbols can reveal the beliefs and emotions of our ancestors who lost little ones. An understanding of these symbols can give us a peek into their hearts. Infant mortality rates were much higher a few generations ago. As we build our family trees,…
Cuba’s Colón Cemetery
Cuba’s Colón Cemetery holds many surprises . . . When you think of the famous explorer Christopher Columbus, a cemetery in Cuba may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But that is who this cemetery is named after. The full name of…
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…
Documenting India
Documenting India and the country’s diaspora 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…
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…
