Styles of stones varied from elaborate to very simple. Some resemble a tree stump, others a stack of cut wood. There are elaborate hand-carved monuments, simple stone markers and stake-type markers driven into the ground. Woodmen gravestones were originally intended to be a uniform design sent by the Home Office to local stonecutters, but not all the cutters followed the design. Some used their own interpretation of the Woodmen design which they felt was more appropriate. The result was a wide range of designs that reflected members' personal tastes and included elements that were symbolic of Woodmen ceremonies or rituals. The tree stump, part of the Society's logo, is the most common symbol used. The traditional monument had four objects on it. They were the Maul, Axe, Wedge and the Dove. The motto "Dum Tacet Clamat" appears on many stones. It is Latin meaning "though silent, he speaks". Many stand approximately four to five feet high.

As time passed, the stones became smaller and smaller until they were similar to the conventional style of gravestones. The cost of the hand made marble stones became prohibitive and cemeteries began prohibiting above-ground markers for maintenance reasons so the stones were finally phased out in the 1920's. The monument rider was discontinued and converted to an extra $100 of insurance protection. For many years after that, members and lodges arranged for markers and monuments on their own.

Over the years, the once popular gravestones have become a rarity. Woodmen gravestones are still scattered in cemeteries throughout the United States. Some cemeteries have special sections reserved for Woodmen members. Many lodge members across the country take time to clean and maintain the Woodmen gravestones.

Although the monument benefit is no longer included in Woodmen Life Insurance certificates, the Society does not let graves go unmarked. The same Woodmen emblem is still available, fitted with pegs, for attaching to an existing stone.

Some grave stones that look like tree trunks are not WOW stones. The trunk means the person was the head of the family and the broken branches on the stone mean that the family has been broken with the loss of the person.

The auxiliary of the Woodmen of the World was established in early 1891 as the Mystic Circle. The name was soon changed to Woodmen Circle. Monthly Tidings was the official publication of the Supreme Forest Woodmen Circle. After several years the Pacific area Woodmen Circle members split from the Omaha Woodmen of the World and the western members started an organization called Women of Woodcraft. In about 1917 they changed their name to Neighbors of Woodcraft. They still exist as an insurance company headquartered in Portland, Oregon.