About this episode
Graveyards are often portrayed as eerie, haunted places. Today, they’re depicted as places of fear and sorrow, where the living rarely go. But historically, cemeteries were central to community life. Far from being hidden or feared, they were embraced as spaces for reflection, creativity, and leisure. They allowed for open religious expression, inspired art and literature, and helped shape landscape architecture. This week we explore cemeteries and appreciate them for all that they have done to shape modern public parks and their roles in conservation and cultural history. Cemetery Scavenger Hunt Info :) Sources: Books: - Over My Dead Body: Unearthing the Hidden History of America’s Cemeteries by Greg Melville - Stories in Stone: A Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism and Iconography Webpages: National Park Service , Chronicling America , Chronicling America (2) , Atlas Obscura , Green Burial Council , Mount Auburn , Sleepy Hollow , Green-Wood Cemetery For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at: Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark TikTok: @nationalparkafterdark Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts . Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page ! Thank you to the week’s partners! Liquid IV : Use our code NPAD at checkout to get 20% off your first order. IQBAR : Text PARK to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products and free shipping. BetterHelp : National Park After Dark is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off. Hello Fresh : Use our link to get up to 10 FREE meals and a free item for life.