Cubans at Green-Wood
Since it opened in 1838, Green-Wood has been the resting place of myriad immigrant communities who made a new homes for themselves and their families in New York City. To honor this rich legacy, join Professor Lisandro Perez and Green-Wood Historian Jeff Richman for a special trolley tour exploring famed Cuban immigrants of the 19th century who count among the cemetery’s permanent residents. You will explore the mausoleum of sugar planter and refiner Miguel de Aldama, who sought to overthrow Spanish control of Cuba, and that of the Acea family, one of the wealthiest coffee-planting families on the island. Along the tour, your guides will share stories of politics, commercial enterprise, and tragedy relating to Cubans interred here.
(Sold Out) Dead Distillers Trolley Tour
Green-Wood is teaming up with our friends at Kings County Distillery to delve into the storied past of distilling in Brooklyn. The afternoon kicks off with a trolley tour of the cemetery’s “permanent residents” with whiskey connections, including the one and only casualty of the Brooklyn Whiskey Wars of the late 1860s and early 1870s. Afterward, the trolley will head to Kings County Distillery in the Brooklyn Navy Yard where visitors will see first-hand how whiskey is made and enjoy a tasting of four delectable varieties.
The Secret Mausoleum Club
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesA peaceful hush falls over Green-Wood each night. In the darkness, centuries-old monuments stand guard over those laid to permanently rest within. This year, Atlas Obscura and Green-Wood Cemetery are collaborating to present The Secret Mausoleum Club, as we open the cemetery’s historic gates and selected mausoleums for an extraordinary series of after-hours explorations through history.
(Sold Out) Birding Basics
Birding is one of this country’s fastest growing hobbies, and there is no place better to enjoy it in Brooklyn than at Green-Wood! This two-part course will teach the beginner birder the why, where, how, and what of birding. With over 250 species of birds residing in, or passing through, the Big Apple every year, learn where to look for, and how to identify, many of the species in this diverse group of animals. Our second session will end with a walk through the Cemetery, applying some of the lessons learned in the classroom.
Historic Trolley Tours
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesExperience the most magnificent and historic 478 acres in New York City. Join our expert tour guides to hear fascinating stories of Green-Wood’s permanent residents, see breathtaking views of Manhattan, tread where George Washington and his troops fought the Battle of Brooklyn, and much more.
Cremation: History and Modern Process
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesWhat is cremation? How long have we been doing it, and how does it work? Amy Cunningham, death educator, leads this presentation of cremation's history and its impact on present-day and future funerals. This engaging and sometimes even light-hearted exploration will also touch on how to choose an end-of-life mode of disposition that expresses your own beliefs and values. Afterward, you will have the opportunity to visit the crematory with Gema LaBoccetta, Green-Wood's Crematory Manager, then chat with Amy and other attendees at a short reception.
Members-Only Opening Reception
Explore Among Trees and Stones before it opens to the public at a special reception in honor of artist Matthew Jensen. The evening will include a brief curator’s talk, refreshments, great company, and twilight tours of the cemetery.
Artist Walk: Discovering Trees and Stones
There is no better way to enjoy the impressive array of fall foliage than by exploring New York City’s best kept greenspace. Beginning at the Fort Hamilton Gate House, artist Matthew Jensen will guide visitors on three-hour walks to discover Green-Wood’s rich collection of majestic trees and historic monuments. Jensen will be accompanied on each walk by a member of Green-Wood’s staff who will share their own behind-the-scenes experience and knowledge of the cemetery. No walk will be the same; come once, twice or three times for unexpected encounters!
Birding in Peace
Before our gates open to the general public, birding expert Rob Jett leads these peaceful Sunday morning walking tours to discover the many birds that call Green-Wood home. By September, all our nesting birds’ offspring will be on their own. Returning warblers will be in their less flamboyant fall plumage. Large numbers of blackbirds, flycatchers, sparrows, vireos, and swallows will also be passing through. By October, waterfowl are returning, and we’ll look for raptors heading south. November will bring back our overwintering denizen from the north.
Fall Family Scavenger Hunt
Green-Wood and Park Slope Parents (www.parkslopeparents.com) are partnering together to present a fun-filled exploration of one of Brooklyn’s most famous landmarks. Enjoy a crisp autumn afternoon with activities, crafts, and refreshments in a picturesque greenspace. Decipher mysterious symbols on historic monuments, take in the view from the highest point in Brooklyn (where a famous battle of the American Revolution was fought), peek inside elaborately decorated mausoleums with exquisite stained-glass windows, and go on a scavenger hunt discovering Green-Wood’s famous permanent residents.
Historic Trolley Tours
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesExperience the most magnificent and historic 478 acres in New York City. Join our expert tour guides to hear fascinating stories of Green-Wood’s permanent residents, see breathtaking views of Manhattan, tread where George Washington and his troops fought the Battle of Brooklyn, and much more.
Obit
It's a shame no one wants to talk to them at parties, because obituary writers are a surprisingly funny bunch. Ten hours before newspapers hit neighborhood doorsteps—and these days, ten minutes before news hits the web—an obit writer is racing against deadline to sum up a long and newsworthy life in under 1000 words. The details of these lives are then deposited into the cultural memory amid the daily beat of war, politics, and football scores.
Open Doors
It’s back! One of Green-Wood’s most popular events returns with an afternoon of exploring some of the cemetery’s most impressive and elaborate 19th-century mausoleums. Venture inside the elaborate bronze gates of these ancient stone structures to explore stunning examples of Green-Wood’s distinct architecture. At each location, docents will offer a glimpse into the lives of the personalities who now rest in these opulent edifices.
Green-Wood’s public programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, as well as the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.
