Love musicals? Then you won’t want to miss this musical tribute to the guy who got it all started. William Wheatley (1816 – 1876) Green-Wood permanent resident and stage star produced The Black Crook, the first American musical. Think of it — the actors acted and sang — and boy did they sing! The show was five hours long and ran for a record-breaking 474 performances at the famed Niblo’s Garden. What got audiences so excited? This your chance to find out. But that's not all! Songs written, performed, and produced by other Green-Wood residents - including a jingle for five cent cigars, ballads from classic Broadway productions, and a tiny bit of disco - will make this celebration of Wheatley’s 200th birthday a party not to be missed! Be sure to save room for cake!

There are few places more atmospheric than a cemetery at dusk – and Green-Wood is top notch when it comes to beauty and atmosphere. Arm yourself with a flashlight to explore the cemetery’s stunning landscape as the sun fades over the horizon. You will visit the graves of fascinating figures in New York and American culture while your tour guide regales you with tales of mystery. The night ends at our famous catacombs, which are normally closed to the public.

Cozy up in the chapel this winter as Green-Wood teams up with Susan Kent of Tell It: Brooklyn to prove that everyone has at least one good story to tell.  The evening will feature seasoned storytellers and spirited songs (performed by Charming Disaster, a Brooklyn-based duo that specializes in murder ballads and love songs) inspired by permanent residents of Green-Wood. December’s theme is “Stage Fright” in honor of Green-Wood’s stars who graced the American stage.

The idle rich of the Victorian Era were among the first to truly embrace the notion of pop culture faddishness, and Green-Wood is home to many of the key characters in these strange and fascinating trends. From arsenic complexion cream and electric corsets, to séances and spirit photography, the Victorians missed no opportunity to jump on the latest bandwagon of wacky and sometimes outrageously dangerous medical, fashionable and spiritual fads.

Way before Brooklyn had swanky cocktail bars and fancy beer, an armed battle was fought on the streets of Vinegar Hill between American soldiers and moonshiners who had avoided paying taxes on their enterprise. The Whiskey Wars of 1869 are one of the many fascinating tales in Colin Spoelman's new book Dead Distillers: A History of the Upstarts and Outlaws Who Made American Spirits. Colin, co-founder of Kings County Distillery, details the extensive history of the many personalities who left their mark on liquor and spirit production, some of whom are now permanent residents of Green-Wood, including Hezekiah Pierrepont, Clinton Gilbert, and Charles Wilson.

Among Green-Wood’s 560,000 permanent residents are some of the most celebrated personalities of the American stage. On this trolley tour we’ll step back in time and discover the actors, producers, composers, and directors that left their mark on entertainment history.

You will discover the world of William Niblo, whose theater in SoHo was stage for the first American musical The Black Crook, produced in 1866 by William Wheatley; as well as the tragic tales of Laura Keene who was onstage during Lincoln’s assassination and Kate Claxton’s harrowing story when fire engulfed the Brooklyn Theater in 1876. You’ll of course visit our modern Broadway legends Leonard Bernstein and Fred Ebb as well.

The winter solstice has been marked with festivities for millennia in cultures across the globe. Did you know that ancient people believed evergreen trees had magical powers to stay green and withstand winter? In our last public program of 2016, just two days before the solstice, join evergreen-filled Green-Wood to celebrate the coming of winter. Learn of the cemetery’s history, our beautiful Himalayan Pines, and famous residents before ending at the chapel for an outdoor bonfire with warm refreshments, sweet treats, and a great decoration to take home. Be sure to toss on a hat and gloves!