Daily AncestorObelisk
An obelisk is a tall, tapering four-sided monument from Egyptian Revival style; in American cemeteries it suggested permanence and pointed toward heaven.
Egyptian forms reached American cemeteries by way of Europe, and the obelisk became the favorite; Virginia's historic preservation office notes them from the early 1800s. A DeKalb County guide dates their popularity from about the 1840s to the 1920s.
Its height and ancient look spoke of permanence and often of wealth and standing. Many serve a whole family, so read every face of the shaft and the base before you leave.
As seen in a recordRural or garden cemetery, 1840 to 1920
Granite obelisk, names on three sides: Bartholomew Quincey 1801 to 1874; Hannah his wife 1806 to 1882; their children
Sources
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Daily Ancestor. "Obelisk." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/gravestone-symbols/obelisk. Last checked 2026-10-15.