Frequently Asked Questions
Cemetery Preservation
Isn't it the responsibility of the cemetery to maintain the monuments and markers in a cemetery?
While this could be the case depending on the cemetery's rules and regulations, more often than not the answer is no. Purchasing a grave in a cemetery is very similar to purchasing a house in an area where there is a Home Owner's Association. When you buy a grave plot, you do not own the land. What you are purchasing is the perpetual use of the land. If you choose to build a monument on that land, the responsibility of its upkeep falls on you and your successors. When a family "dies out", moves on, or forgets to remember their ancestors, the monuments fall into disrepair. The fate of these monuments falls to the cemetery they exist in. Some cemeteries have the ability to maintain those markers that have been forgotten by family. Many of them do not have the ability to do so. The cost of maintenance of the cemetery grounds are often very excessive and without income, a cemetery usually does not have the means to maintain monuments that fall into disrepair. Many, many cemeteries - hundreds of cemeteries - across the United States have been forgotten and abandoned. Some have been saved - more have been lost forever.
Genealogy
Do I need to hire a professional genealogist to research my family tree?
Definitely not. Genealogy is currently the second most popular hobby in the U.S. (per ABC News). It is accessible, can be done from almost anywhere, and the rewards and benefits far outweigh the cost and time spent researching. But it's not for everyone, and the internet can only get you so far.
For people who have hit a brick wall and need another set of eyes, or persons who want to benefit from the years of experience and knowledge a professional genealogist has accumulated, hiring a genealogist to help with your tree can be a great stepping stone on your historical journey.
Others just don't like to do research, and that's ok :) Genealogists love to do your research for you.
Whatever your reasoning, many family historians can benefit from hiring a professional genealogist, but they certainly have the ability to do their own family tree research, and so do you.
Looking for some advice on how to get started? Just ask! We're happy to point you in the right direction.
For people who have hit a brick wall and need another set of eyes, or persons who want to benefit from the years of experience and knowledge a professional genealogist has accumulated, hiring a genealogist to help with your tree can be a great stepping stone on your historical journey.
Others just don't like to do research, and that's ok :) Genealogists love to do your research for you.
Whatever your reasoning, many family historians can benefit from hiring a professional genealogist, but they certainly have the ability to do their own family tree research, and so do you.
Looking for some advice on how to get started? Just ask! We're happy to point you in the right direction.
How much does it cost to have you research my family tree?
Each customer has unique family tree needs and we do not like to "bundle" services you don't need. We offer a consultation for free as well as 15 minutes of free research to determine if our help can benefit your need. If you find you would like us to work on your tree, the general fee is $25 per hour plus cost of any documents we need to order. These can get a little pricey - for example, to order a copy of a homestead file the fee is $50. We NEVER order any records or charge any research hours without your prior knowledge and approval.
Do I have to pay additional money to get my research from you?
Goodness no! That is the point of hiring a professional genealogist - to get the information for your own use. We will pass on to you any research conclusions we come to, a list of records we have searched for your families information, as well as copies of any documents you have purchased. We maintain copies of all research we conduct, but the information we give to you will belong to you and you can use it however you see fit.
We also promise to provide your family tree information to you in a way that makes it as easy as possible for you to use it. You will receive a digital file known as a GedCom which is compatible with any genealogy software, including Ancestry.com, Family Tree Maker, Legacy Family Tree, Roots Magic, etc. We will provide you with a pdf or a Microsoft Word document with your information as well. We do not print every family tree to save on paper waste, but if that is how you want your information provided to you, we are happy to print it out and provide it to you.
We also promise to provide your family tree information to you in a way that makes it as easy as possible for you to use it. You will receive a digital file known as a GedCom which is compatible with any genealogy software, including Ancestry.com, Family Tree Maker, Legacy Family Tree, Roots Magic, etc. We will provide you with a pdf or a Microsoft Word document with your information as well. We do not print every family tree to save on paper waste, but if that is how you want your information provided to you, we are happy to print it out and provide it to you.
Tours
Do I need to print a ticket to show my tour guide?
Nope! You don't need to print anything. We will have a list of ticket purchasers - all you need is to confirm the name of the person who purchased your ticket when you arrive at your tour.
I purchased a ticket to a tour but I don't know where to go - where do I meet my tour guide?
You will receive an email from info@historywalksnebraska.com a day or two before your tour with information on where to meet and how to prepare for your tour. Check your spam box - sometimes our emails get lost there :)
Will you cancel a tour if the weather is bad?
No! We hate to cancel our tours and we will never cancel a tour that has pre-purchased tickets, with one small exception. If there is severe weather and it is not safe to be outside we will not jeopardize our customers safety for a tour. This would happen only if the National Weather Service issues a severe weather warning and advises everyone to stay indoors.
In this circumstance the customer who pre-purchased their tickets would have a choice of receiving a refund or redeeming their ticket for a different tour date.
In this circumstance the customer who pre-purchased their tickets would have a choice of receiving a refund or redeeming their ticket for a different tour date.
Will you cancel a tour if only a few tickets are sold?
No! We hate to cancel our tours and we will never cancel a tour that has pre-purchased tickets (with one exception - see Will you cancel a tour if the weather is bad).
We only cancel tours if no tickets have been purchased AND our tour guide has to travel a long way to get to the tour site. We do our very best to make sure all scheduled tours take place.
We only cancel tours if no tickets have been purchased AND our tour guide has to travel a long way to get to the tour site. We do our very best to make sure all scheduled tours take place.
Do I have to pre-purchase a ticket to a tour?
You can purchase tickets on-site before the start of the tour, however we may be sold out, or worse, we may have cancelled the tour due to no ticket sales. This is rare but it does happen on occasion. If a tour is cancelled, we will cancel the event on our Facebook page and we will make a note on our website indicating the tour has been cancelled.
What is a cemetery tour?
This is a guided, narrated experience full of tales that are interesting, educational and entertaining. Our tour guides provide stories of residents of the cemetery, discuss the symbolism found on gravestones, and answer any questions you might have.