Milwaukie, Oregon: Davis Graveyard

I love Halloween decorations, and I am starting to see more elaborate ones popping up. 

That should make me happy, but at the same time, a lot of them don't have much art to them, becoming mostly just a bunch of plastic, sometimes including multiple 12 foot skeletons.

There was so much art and creativity at the Davis Graveyard.

First of all, just the apparent chapel and boarded up house and the many tombstones are a good start.

Then, as you take a closer look at the stones, there is an affection for actors and the characters they have played, showing humor but also tenderness in remembering them.

Then there are the unexpected touches. Is that a man in a rain slicker? Has he been there all along?

Okay, it's a mannequin, but it made you look.

We went to see the graveyard during the day, though there was still an eerie haze descending over it. So weird for Oregon in the fall.

There are other experiences available, including behind the scenes tours and classes and materials for creating your own tombstones.

There is also lighting at night. 

With a little creativity and training, you could take your yard up a notch. Don't bury those talents!

COVID: The graveyard can be viewed outside and there are virtual classes. Tours and other class options may take place inside.

Accessibility: The viewing area outside the gate is relatively flat and easy to navigate. I can easily imagine that becoming more difficult in the dark and with more traffic.

Going behind the scenes will also involve different terrain. 

As it was, I am glad we went during the day because navigation could be a little tricky, with lots of turns. Then we suddenly found ourselves in downtown Milwaukie without understanding how.

Spooky.

https://davisgraveyard.com/