Preservation Services
Services Offered
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Cemetery Evaluation
What shape is your cemetery in? Do you have numerous monuments that require preservation? Does your cemetery have a pest problem? Do you find you are vandalized frequently?
History Walks LLC can help assess the condition of your cemetery and offer advice on how to move forward with a preservation effort. An evaluation by History Walks LLC does not obligate you to hire us to complete the work identified. Though we are happy to do the work and would provide an estimate if requested, we are also available to work in strictly a consultant capacity at a reasonable fee. 
Herman Jacob Meyer Jr., Prospect Hill Cemetery, Omaha, NE
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Preservation Services
Grave stones are not immune to the elements. Basic preservation may include:
Anne Dehning, Emmanuel Evangelical Cemetery, Cass Co., NE
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Why Hire a Preservationist?
Expertise
"Eh - it can't be that hard. I'll just do this using my life experience and I'll preserve that grave marker!"
Unfortunately, these words have been uttered by some of the most well-meaning volunteers...that have forever damaged priceless monuments.
Unfortunately, these words have been uttered by some of the most well-meaning volunteers...that have forever damaged priceless monuments.
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Improper Leveling
"Something" is not always better than nothing.
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Incorrect Stabilize
How to damage markers - touch metal to stone.
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Chemical Damage
Chemicals should not be used when cleaning markers.
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What's Wrong Here?
Concrete! My arch-nemesis...
Just say no. 
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Pricing
Cemetery Evaluation and Preservation |
Consultations |
$50 per hour plus cost of materials and mileage when applicable |
Pricing for this service depends on the length of the consultation, the subject matter, and the expected result (i.e. one-time consultation, written reporting, project plan development, etc.) but generally between $25-$50 hour. |
A travel allowance of $0.45 per mile will be applied for cemeteries more than 50 miles* outside of Omaha, NE.
A housing allowance will be applied for cemeteries more than 100 miles outside of Omaha, NE
A housing allowance will be applied for cemeteries more than 100 miles outside of Omaha, NE
White bronze monument, Prospect Hill Cemetery, Omaha, NE
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We are currently offering 2 free basic preservation services to any local cemeteries.*
To to take advantage of this offer, please contact us by email or by phone. info@historywalksnebraska.com or (816) 616-9162 *this offer valid to any cemetery within 100 miles of Omaha, NE Outside of this radius? We'll honor our offer of two free preservations provided mileage and housing allowances are provided |
Baby Winston, Bohemian Cemetery, Omaha, NE
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Qualifications
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Formal education opportunities for cemetery preservation are few and far between, and usually off to the east. Fortunately there are many resources we can use to be well informed and educated on proper cemetery maintenance best practices and standards.
History Walks LLC's goal at all times is to protect the monuments we work with. We follow the teachings and standards of the National Center for Preservation Training and Technology, the Association for Gravestone Studies, the Chicora Foundation, the National Park Service, the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Objects, and our contemporaries (among others). |
Cemetery Preservation Workshop, Mt. Hope Cemetery, Urbana, IL
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There are many cemetery preservationists throughout the country (and the world) that are kind enough to share the knowledge they have gained from their experiences. These organizations and business' provide guidance and information on how to properly care for grave markers. These resources also provide warnings against common pitfalls and harmful practices. Bleach eats away the gravestone, lichen trap moisture against the stone wearing it away, biological growth on grave markers infect the stone causing cracks and other damage, and concrete/cement have no place in the cemetery! (with a few notable exceptions). Well established safety procedures exist on how to safely lift a thousand pound stone-known in "the biz" as "Man-Crushers" - without harming human beings or other monuments (which does not include heavy equipment of any kind.) We have studied the teachings of our predecessors at great length, but nothing can compare to hands-on experience. |
Shannon Lewis is certified in basic cemetery preservation, including resetting grave stones and repairing cracks and breaks. Over the past two seasons we have worked on many grave marker preservation projects and are learning and growing with every experience.
Our education is far from over and we will continue to be an active member of the cemetery preservation and restoration community. However, the best way to learn is to do, so we dig the cemetery.
