Behind the Scenes of Tales Tombstones Tell: 36 Years of Stories in West Chicago Cemeteries
From Tales Tombstones Tell 2023
Planning for Tales Tombstones Tell, our beloved annual cemetery walk, begins long before the first autumn leaf falls. For 36 years, this West Chicago tradition has brought local history to life among the quiet stones of West Chicago's cemeteries. Each October, as lanterns flicker in the crisp evening air, visitors step back in time to meet the people who helped shape our community.
But the magic begins months earlier. Every July, museum staff start brainstorming a theme to guide that year’s stories. Sometimes the focus ties into a milestone anniversary or a national celebration; other years it highlights overlooked moments from West Chicago’s past. Over the decades, we’ve explored everything from veterans of the War of 1812, women's history, medical history, and the Civil War to early settlers, educators, artists, and everyday residents whose lives reflect the growth and character of our town.
One of the best parts of Tales Tombstones Tell is the backdrop provided by nature.
Bringing History to Life
Museum staff spends extensive hours researching families, people whose stories tie to larger human nature themes, and those who have a made a big impact locally. We utilize our collection, newspaper resources and other online ancestry databases to fill any gaps and create a short tale-a very hard thing to do when we are working with the entirety of someone's life boiled down to a five minute speech.
Our interpreters, dedicated volunteers and local actors, do far more than don period costumes. They spend time rehearsing scripts and sometimes practicing songs to bring authenticity and emotion to their portrayals. A few of our participants are talented musicians who add live music to their scenes, creating a moving and memorable atmosphere as visitors wind their way through the softly lit paths of the cemetery.
By the time the audience gathers for the Friday evening program, countless hours of preparation have gone into the event—from costume fittings and script edits to logistics, lighting, and weather planning. (Knock on wood—we’ve only had to cancel once in 36 years due to bad weather!)
From 2024
History, Revisited and Revised
As a museum, one of our greatest joys is discovering new pieces of the past. While we’ve revisited some stories over the years, new research and the availability of digitized archives have allowed us to expand, deepen, or even correct earlier versions of local tales. Each performance is both a remembrance and a reflection of how our understanding of history evolves.
What keeps Tales Tombstones Tell so special is its balance of education and emotion. The stories may be rooted in the past, but they continue to resonate with audiences today, reminding us that the people who built, taught, and dreamed here once walked the same streets we do.
As we prepare for another October evening under the stars, we invite you to join us in celebrating the lives, laughter, and legacies that make West Chicago’s story uniquely our own. We look forward to seeing you this coming Friday evening at Oakwood Cemetery.
