Enjoying a picnic in a cemetery was not always a taboo activity: Quite the contrary — a graveside lunch was once a popular leisure activity. People often dined while visiting loved ones, and city residents took advantage of cemeteries for strolls and carriage rides, too. Join Candace Summers, McLean County Museum of History senior director of education, for a walking tour of Evergreen Memorial Cemetery followed by a picnic lunch on Friday, October 9 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Participants will learn about Victorian-era funerary customs and superstitions, explore the cemetery’s monuments, and hear stories of some of the McLean County citizens who rest there. Class registration is $39 per person and includes a one-hour guided walking tour and boxed lunch. Registration is limited to 30 people and can be made by clicking here.
Note: Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes, as participants will walk approximately one mile over a one-hour period, standing and stopping between various sites. In the event of rain, the program will be held indoors at Heartland Community College. Registration deadline is Oct. 4.
Questions? or for more information, contact the Education Department at education@mchistory.org or 309-827-0428.