1 p.m. Designing Green-Wood: New York’s First Rural Greenspace
Green-Wood owes much of its splendor to the genius of its original designer - landscape architect David Bates Douglass. The twists and turns of Green-Wood's 40 miles of pathways purposefully create visual surprises around each bend. In 1838, Douglass eschewed the long vistas of unobstructed open space, in favor of rolling hills and meandering, serpentine walkways.
Join Superintendent of Grounds, Art Presson, in Green-Wood's Historic Chapel for a talk on David Bates Douglass's intent and original design. Then board the trolley for a tour of what's changed, what's stayed the same, and how the Green-Wood landscape has evolved over 175 years.
(Sold Out) 1 p.m. Historic Trolley Tour
Experience 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. Green-Wood offers complimentary hot chocolate on tours all winter!
Each tour boasts great views, beautiful monuments throughout, rolling hills, century-old trees and stories of the fascinating persons interred at Green-Wood. Please note: all tours include a visit to Green-Wood's Historic Chapel and to Battle Hill.
2 p.m. Honoring Fearless Flo
We celebrate the life and career of Florence LaBadie, a young silent film sensation in the early 20th-century. Appearing in over 180 films over the course of her short life, LaBadie was a stunningly beautiful actress who enjoyed tremendous fame in her day. A tragic car accident in 1928 cut her life short at the age of 28, and she was buried at Green-Wood shortly thereafter. Mysteriously, neither a gravestone nor a monument was ever placed at her burial site and her resting place has remained unmarked for nearly a century. Now, with the help of Green-Wood, Ned Thanhouser and Thanhouser Company Film Preservation, loyal LaBadie fans and film historians, “Fearless Flo” will finally receive a proper grave marker. Join us on LaBadie’s birthday for a dedication ceremony at her final resting place, featuring music and speeches. A reception will follow in Green-Wood’s Historic Chapel.
(Sold Out) 1 p.m. Great Architects of Green-Wood Walking Tour with Francis Morrone
Join architectural historian and expert tour guide Francis Morrone as he leads a special architecturally themed walking tour of Green-Wood. The cemetery’s 478 acres boasts not simply a stunning landscape, but also world-class art and architecture. And with such a vast array of good design, it’s no surprise that many famed architects also chose Green-Wood as their final resting place. In addition to discussing some of Green-Wood's notable structures, such as the main gothic arches by Richard M. Upjohn and the chapel by Warren & Wetmore (the architects behind Grand Central), Morrone will point out the sites of the many prominent architects who are buried at Green-Wood – like James Renwick Jr., cast-iron king James Bogardus, Central Park contributor Jacob Wrey Mould and more. You will learn of their fascinating lives, fruitful careers, and influence in the architecture arena. Morrone was named, by Travel + Leisure magazine, one of the 13 best tour guides in the world and this is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to see the only tour Morrone has ever led in Green-Wood.
1 p.m. The Azaleas and Dogwoods of Green-Wood Trolley Tour
Do not attempt to adjust your dials – our spring colors really are that vibrant! Green-Wood’s Superintendent of Grounds and resident expert in all things green (and pink, yellow, white and purple), Art Presson will dazzle you with the extraordinary beauty of the spring blooms at Green-Wood.
Whether you’re the kind of person who sees white blooms and says “that’s a Cornus florida flowering dogwood!” or you’re more the “that’s pretty—I wonder what it’s called” kind of person, this tour will be a visual extravaganza. With over 8,000 trees across 478 acres, Green-Wood is one of the most beautiful places in all of New York City.
(Sold Out) 1 p.m. Historic Trolley Tour
Experience 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. Green-Wood offers complimentary hot chocolate on tours all winter!
Each tour boasts great views, beautiful monuments throughout, rolling hills, century-old trees and stories of the fascinating persons interred at Green-Wood. Please note: all tours include a visit to Green-Wood's Historic Chapel and to Battle Hill.
(Sold Out) 1 p.m. Mausoleums: Little-Known Works of Great Architects Trolley Tour
There are over 700 mausoleums dotting the Green-Wood landscape, and although they are much smaller in scale than the great buildings of New York, they are not lacking for architectural significance and merit. Scores of prominent New Yorkers are buried in Green-Wood, and their final resting places are no less opulent than their residences were during their lives. And many times, the same architects who were designing impressive homes in New York City were also turning to Green-Wood to build within these 478 acres. Join expert tour guide Ruth Edebohls for a look at the fabulous architectural designs hidden within Green-Wood’s rolling hills. You’ll visit structures by Ernest Flagg, Richard Upjohn and Son, Stanford White and more.
(Sold Out) 7:30 p.m. Twilight Tour and Catacomb Cocktails
There are few places more atmospheric than a cemetery at dusk – and Green-Wood is top notch when it comes to beauty and atmosphere. So take a walk on the wild side during this special event that will lead you on a twilight tour of the expansive grounds. As the sun sets on 478 spectacular acres, you’ll stroll through stunning landscapes and visit the graves of fascinating figures in New York and American culture.
After the walking tour, enjoy drinks and light refreshments amidst the art and greenery. The catacombs will be open for the reception, so you can wander by torchlight, sip your drink, and visit the opulent indoor resting places of Green-Wood.
(Sold Out) 1 p.m. Historic Trolley Tour
Experience 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. Green-Wood offers complimentary hot chocolate on tours all winter!
Each tour boasts great views, beautiful monuments throughout, rolling hills, century-old trees and stories of the fascinating persons interred at Green-Wood. Please note: all tours include a visit to Green-Wood's Historic Chapel and to Battle Hill.
2:30 p.m. Green-Wood’s Annual Memorial Day Concert
Kick off the summer with Green-Wood’s 16th annual Memorial Day concert. The concert features the ISO Symphonic Band, founded in 1995 to sponsor talented students throughout New York City and led by ISO’s inimitable founder and conductor Brian P. Worsdale. Each year we feature the works of Green-Wood’s permanent residents Fred Ebb, Louis Moreau Gottschalk, Leonard Bernstein, and many others.
Bring a blanket and enjoy this free early summer performance. Food and refreshments will be on sale all day. Directly after the concert, enjoy a special trolley tour with Green-Wood Historian Jeff Richman.
(Sold Out) 5 p.m. Memorial Day Special Trolley Tour
A special trolley tour with Green-Wood Historian Jeff Richman begins right after the Memorial Day concert, featuring highlights of Green-Wood.
(Sold Out) 1 p.m. Historic Trolley Tour
Experience 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. Green-Wood offers complimentary hot chocolate on tours all winter!
Each tour boasts great views, beautiful monuments throughout, rolling hills, century-old trees and stories of the fascinating persons interred at Green-Wood. Please note: all tours include a visit to Green-Wood's Historic Chapel and to Battle Hill.
5 p.m. A Centennial Performance of Isadora Duncan’s Grande Marche
After becoming one of the most innovative and exciting figures of 20th-century dance, Isadora Duncan endured the tragic accidental deaths of her two young children. The experience filled her subsequent choreographic works with mournful yearning, spiritual redemption and powerful images of rebirth. Now we present those dances amidst the serene landscape of Green-Wood.
Dancer and choreographer Catherine Gallant has, for over thirty years, choreographed her own dances and worked to preserve and enliven the dances of Isadora Duncan. She and her company, Catherine Gallant/DANCE, will perform Duncan’s “Grande Marche” (1914) set to the music of Schubert, plus other late-period Duncan dances born of her sorrow. The company will then turn to works of hope and rebirth, set to a Nocturne and Polonaise of Chopin, followed by Duncan’s dances of exuberance and light to celebrate the rising of the sun.
1 p.m. Historic Trolley Tour
Experience 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. Green-Wood offers complimentary hot chocolate on tours all winter!
Each tour boasts great views, beautiful monuments throughout, rolling hills, century-old trees and stories of the fascinating persons interred at Green-Wood. Please note: all tours include a visit to Green-Wood's Historic Chapel and to Battle Hill.
8 a.m. Stretch in Peace: Yoga in Green-Wood
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesJoin Barrie Raffel, registered yoga teacher, for an hour of active-but-gentle outdoor yoga that integrates the serene landscape of Green-Wood in a subtle, thoughtful way. Green-Wood’s rich history and quiet, picturesque grounds allow a uniquely calming atmosphere to practice connecting our bodies to all our senses.
After the session, stay for a short walk to one of Green-Wood’s stunning views for a relaxing breakfast picnic. Tea, coffee and light breakfast snacks will be provided.
(Sold Out) 1 p.m. Scandals, Scalawags & Murder Most Foul Trolley Tour
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesYou are invited to visit some of Green-Wood’s most nefarious residents with veteran tour guide Ruth Edebohls. Green-Wood is the final resting place of many famous and heroic people, but some of its deceased denizens have a more blemished reputation. Murderers and the murdered, a sullied adulteress, a famous courtesan, gangsters, con men and schemers lie next to those of a more virtuous disposition.
(Sold Out) 1 p.m. Historic Trolley Tour
Experience 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. Green-Wood offers complimentary hot chocolate on tours all winter!
Each tour boasts great views, beautiful monuments throughout, rolling hills, century-old trees and stories of the fascinating persons interred at Green-Wood. Please note: all tours include a visit to Green-Wood's Historic Chapel and to Battle Hill.
7:30 p.m. Our Town
Enjoy a classic piece of American theater amidst the timeless beauty of Green-Wood Cemetery. Our Town tells the story of Emily Webb and George Gibbs of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, a small New England town at the turn of the twentieth century. But the lessons of Grover's Corners stretch far beyond the sleepy town, as the play touches on the beauty of life, the randomness of the universe, and celebrates spirituality and the importance of memorials and memory. Deeply rooted in American and social history, Our Town fits in perfectly with Green-Wood's own history and the hundreds of thousands of personal stories memorialized across its beautiful landscape.
(Canceled) 7:30 p.m. Our Town
Enjoy a classic piece of American theater amidst the timeless beauty of Green-Wood Cemetery. Our Town tells the story of Emily Webb and George Gibbs of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, a small New England town at the turn of the twentieth century. But the lessons of Grover's Corners stretch far beyond the sleepy town, as the play touches on the beauty of life, the randomness of the universe, and celebrates spirituality and the importance of memorials and memory. Deeply rooted in American and social history, Our Town fits in perfectly with Green-Wood's own history and the hundreds of thousands of personal stories memorialized across its beautiful landscape.
(Canceled) 7:30 p.m. Our Town
Enjoy a classic piece of American theater amidst the timeless beauty of Green-Wood Cemetery. Our Town tells the story of Emily Webb and George Gibbs of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, a small New England town at the turn of the twentieth century. But the lessons of Grover's Corners stretch far beyond the sleepy town, as the play touches on the beauty of life, the randomness of the universe, and celebrates spirituality and the importance of memorials and memory. Deeply rooted in American and social history, Our Town fits in perfectly with Green-Wood's own history and the hundreds of thousands of personal stories memorialized across its beautiful landscape.
1 p.m. Gay Green-Wood Trolley Tour
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesClose out Brooklyn Pride Week (June 9 - 14) in a most unique way, on Green-Wood's first ever LGBT-themed trolley tour. Tour guide Phil Desiere - who leads tours of Greenwich Village, Central Park, and other NYC sights - will illuminate stories of Green-Wood 'permanent residents' who were openly gay, including "It's Raining Men" co-author Paul Jabara, and some who were probably gay or bisexual, like Violet Oakley, a member of a 'Boston marriage.' Plus you'll visit the final resting places of those who contributed to LGBT culture in fun, surprising ways, among them Louis Comfort Tiffany, the artist and businessman whose fancy New York City atelier is the namesake of gay novelist Truman Capote's smash hit, "Breakfast at Tiffany's."
7:30 p.m. Our Town
Enjoy a classic piece of American theater amidst the timeless beauty of Green-Wood Cemetery. Our Town tells the story of Emily Webb and George Gibbs of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, a small New England town at the turn of the twentieth century. But the lessons of Grover's Corners stretch far beyond the sleepy town, as the play touches on the beauty of life, the randomness of the universe, and celebrates spirituality and the importance of memorials and memory. Deeply rooted in American and social history, Our Town fits in perfectly with Green-Wood's own history and the hundreds of thousands of personal stories memorialized across its beautiful landscape.
11:30 p.m. Our Town
Enjoy a classic piece of American theater amidst the timeless beauty of Green-Wood Cemetery. Our Town tells the story of Emily Webb and George Gibbs of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, a small New England town at the turn of the twentieth century. But the lessons of Grover's Corners stretch far beyond the sleepy town, as the play touches on the beauty of life, the randomness of the universe, and celebrates spirituality and the importance of memorials and memory. Deeply rooted in American and social history, Our Town fits in perfectly with Green-Wood's own history and the hundreds of thousands of personal stories memorialized across its beautiful landscape.
(Sold Out) Creative Writing Workshops Hosted by NY Writers Coalition
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesAre you working on a memoir, a poem, or a story and looking for some friendly feedback? Or maybe you just want to put pen to paper and see what happens. This summer, let the exquisite monuments, stunning grounds, and timeless history in Green Wood inspire you to do just that. Join NY Writers Coalition for six weeks of writing within the gates of Green-Wood. The workshops, led by Rachel Plutzer, will help you generate new writing and fine-tune what you already have. Weather permitting, the workshop will utilize both the beautifully landscaped grounds as well as serene, historic interiors – each space inspiring and enlightening. Writers of all levels of experience and genres — poetry, fiction, memoir, and anything else — are welcome. Recommended for ages 18 and up.
7:30 p.m. Our Town
Enjoy a classic piece of American theater amidst the timeless beauty of Green-Wood Cemetery. Our Town tells the story of Emily Webb and George Gibbs of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, a small New England town at the turn of the twentieth century. But the lessons of Grover's Corners stretch far beyond the sleepy town, as the play touches on the beauty of life, the randomness of the universe, and celebrates spirituality and the importance of memorials and memory. Deeply rooted in American and social history, Our Town fits in perfectly with Green-Wood's own history and the hundreds of thousands of personal stories memorialized across its beautiful landscape.
(Sold Out) 7:30 p.m. Our Town
Enjoy a classic piece of American theater amidst the timeless beauty of Green-Wood Cemetery. Our Town tells the story of Emily Webb and George Gibbs of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, a small New England town at the turn of the twentieth century. But the lessons of Grover's Corners stretch far beyond the sleepy town, as the play touches on the beauty of life, the randomness of the universe, and celebrates spirituality and the importance of memorials and memory. Deeply rooted in American and social history, Our Town fits in perfectly with Green-Wood's own history and the hundreds of thousands of personal stories memorialized across its beautiful landscape.
7:30 p.m. Our Town
Enjoy a classic piece of American theater amidst the timeless beauty of Green-Wood Cemetery. Our Town tells the story of Emily Webb and George Gibbs of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, a small New England town at the turn of the twentieth century. But the lessons of Grover's Corners stretch far beyond the sleepy town, as the play touches on the beauty of life, the randomness of the universe, and celebrates spirituality and the importance of memorials and memory. Deeply rooted in American and social history, Our Town fits in perfectly with Green-Wood's own history and the hundreds of thousands of personal stories memorialized across its beautiful landscape.
(Sold Out) 3 p.m. Cheers to Brooklyn Whiskey
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesDelve in to the past and present of distilling, Brooklyn style. At the stunning Pierrepont memorial in Green-Wood, you’ll learn about Hezekiah Beers Pierrepont and his early-19th century downtown Brooklyn distillery. Plus you’ll visit other permanent residents with whiskey connections, including the only casualty in the contentious Whiskey Wars of the mid-1800s.
After the tour, Green-Wood’s trolley will whisk you away to Kings County Distillery in the Brooklyn Navy Yard! They’ve been making gin and whiskey in their historic building since 2010. You’ll see how they create their modern whiskey before tasting some of the delectable product.
(Sold Out) 7:30 p.m. Our Town
Enjoy a classic piece of American theater amidst the timeless beauty of Green-Wood Cemetery. Our Town tells the story of Emily Webb and George Gibbs of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, a small New England town at the turn of the twentieth century. But the lessons of Grover's Corners stretch far beyond the sleepy town, as the play touches on the beauty of life, the randomness of the universe, and celebrates spirituality and the importance of memorials and memory. Deeply rooted in American and social history, Our Town fits in perfectly with Green-Wood's own history and the hundreds of thousands of personal stories memorialized across its beautiful landscape.
(Sold Out) 1 p.m. Historic Trolley Tour
Experience 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. Green-Wood offers complimentary hot chocolate on tours all winter!
Each tour boasts great views, beautiful monuments throughout, rolling hills, century-old trees and stories of the fascinating persons interred at Green-Wood. Please note: all tours include a visit to Green-Wood's Historic Chapel and to Battle Hill.
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.
