Explore an amazing rural cemetery right at the heart of Brooklyn, New York.
Rural cemeteries were a big thing during the early 19th century. Parks were not common in the densely packed cities of the time and the parish cemeteries were overflowing. Rural cemeteries started in Europe (like Paris’ Pere Lachaise and London’s Highgate) and blossomed in the United States. They became de facto parks. People would leave the city behind to walk among the tombstones of these large park-like cemeteries. Picnicking was also a popular cemetery activity.
Green-wood Cemetery is by default the first “public” park in Brooklyn. It was founded in 1838, well before nearby Prospect Park, and even the famous Central Park in Manhattan. Green-Wood is located in central Brooklyn, in what used to be farm fields. The city of Brooklyn was at the time, well to the north. Today, Green-Wood is surrounded by apartments and business, a bit difference in scenery, but the cemetery still retains its park-like appearance.
Surprisingly, Green-Wood was built on the tallest hill in Brooklyn. If it wasn’t for the mature trees, you could see miles around. The Battle of Long Island took place here on August 27, 1776, and the cemetery features a Revolutionary War moment on the top of the hill. Today, the cemetery has over 600,000 graves, much less actually than any European cemetery of the same size.
This impressive gatehouse was built by the master Neo-Gothic architect, Richard M. Upjohn, who is responsible for Trinity Church at Wall Street and Broadway in Manhattan. (He’s also responsible for the Federal/Neo-Gothic monstrosity that is now Martin Van Buren National Historic Site.)
It was a really warm June day when I visited, so the shaded paths were very welcome. The Sun and I are not friends.
Green-Wood still gives off that park experience today.
This is one really impressive mausoleum.
Green-wood has the usual range of American tombstones, from plain stone to statues. I like the statues.
I’m a sucker for ornate mausoleum doors. Yes, I know I’m a weirdo.
The Green-Wood Chapel was built in 1911, keeping with the Neo-Gothic style of the gates.
Plain but beautiful.
Now this is a statue.
Tomb statues can be very informative. Without this statue, we wouldn’t have known that this guy had some serious mutton chops.
While Green-Wood has over 7,000 trees, some areas are fairly open.
While some tombs are placed right in the trees.
It wouldn’t be an American rural cemetery without a pond and water feature.
Impressive.
Tomb of Louis Comfort Tiffany, the founder of Tiffany and Co.
Heading up Battle Hill now.
Just a lovely cemetery.
Trees and tombs.
This guy must have been rich.
The tombs go on and on. It’s hard to imagine that we are surrounded by a bustling city.
This is a more unique statue.
Another unique tombstone that I haven’t seen before.
Quite a few prominent New Yorkers are buried here including Samuel Morse, the inventor of the Telegraph.
Let’s just stop and enjoy this tree for a minute.
Mausoleum of the Steinway family. They founded their famous Steinway piano factory in Queens. They built up a little factory town up there and the neighborhood is still called Steinway today.
A bunch of mausoleums encircle a small pond.
I love the robed figure on the door to this mausoleum.
Last but not least, this over-the-top mausoleum, complete with statue, stairs and a dome.
An easy metro ride from downtown Manhattan takes you to this lovely cemetery in central Brooklyn. It is well off the beaten tourist track, but it is a must-see for any cemetery lover and budget traveler.
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