'Presidential Grave Hunter': A Review

Time to review Presidential Grave Hunter, the new book from public historian and writer Kurt Deion.

As I mentioned in a previous entry, Kurt and I have yet to meet, though that it looks like that will happen on July 2. But I have been aware of him for close to 20 years, which is when all the people who enjoy visiting cemeteries and other historic places began to congregate via social media.

When he was a kid, Kurt decided he wanted to visit all of the U.S. presidential gravesites (he eventually decided to pursue all U.S. vice presential gravesites as well). His parents said, “Sure, why not?” and they were off and running, not that there weren’t occasional stumbles along the way.

Over the course of Presidential Grave Hunter, Kurt weaves his travelogue with solid presidential history and his family history during the decade that he pursued his quest. While he doesn’t dwell on this much, his occasional hints that his taphophile ways led him to feel like an outcast during his teenage years lend some poignancy to his story.

I highly recommendPresidential Grave Hunter, obviously to fellow grave hunters, but also to anyone who enjoys presidential history, as well as to fans of quirky – and I mean that in the best way possible – memoirs.

~217~