This thesis ascertains how can the addition of interpretive programming help preserve the rural cemeteries and resurrect their role in defining a communitys sense of place. It examines the history of cemeteries to explain what rural cemeteries are, how they came to be, and what caused their decline. Next, the it looks back at art history to define what historical interpretation is, its evolution into a modern professional practice, and to explain how interpretive programming has been applied in rural cemeteries. Finally, the thesis considered how the rural cemeterys resurrection can help in defining a communitys sense of place by defining what sense of place is, and explaining how people and communities are affected by its presence. The thesis then analyzes the responses from eleven rural cemeteries that were surveyed with respect to the thesis posed above and it takes an even closer look at three of these cemeteries as case studies to determine how interpretive programming had impacted their preservation.