23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Cemetery Culture

A visit to a local cemetery offers a surprisingly insightful window into a region's culture, history, and social values. Far from being merely places of sorrow, these spaces—particularly historic ones—function as open-air museums, preserving stories and artistic traditions in stone. This striking monument from a cemetery in Sonnborn, dating back to the 19th century, exemplifies the period's approach to memorialization.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 11.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Wuppertal, Germany
Camera: ILCE-5000
Copyright: © Marc Schultz