The secret language of tombstones | Danielle Gagne | TEDxAlfred University

Dr. Danielle Gagne explores how curiosity can transform the way we see cemeteries: from places of endings into open-air museums filled with art, symbolism, and untold human stories. Through the study of gravestones and their hidden meanings, we uncover history, memory, and connection in everyday landscapes. It is an invitation to slow down, ask questions, and rediscover the spark of curiosity that brings the past, and its people, back to life.

Dr. Danielle Gagne has been a member of the Psychology Division at Alfred University since 2004. What started as a professional opportunity quickly became a true home - as she embraced both the campus and the Alfred community.

In her talk on gravestone symbolism, Dr. Gagne invites us to see cemeteries as “living museums.” Carved images, like clasped hands or broken columns - quietly tell stories of love, loss, faith, and identity. Through these enduring symbols, she reveals how cemeteries preserve a powerful historical record of societal values, cultural traditions, and personal legacies - passed down across generations.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx