This spring marks the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War. And Green-Wood is proud to be the final resting place of over 5,000 Civil War veterans and other contributors to the war effort. For one night, Green-Wood will be transformed into a Civil War-era commemoration and festival, with the Grand Procession as the main event - a spectacular walk across Green-Wood’s grounds, aglow with 5,000 honorary candles, and featuring a brass band, artillery fire, a chorus, cavalry horses, and re-enactors in uniform.

Join re-enactors and musicians in a parade to Green-Wood’s Civil War Soldiers’ Lot for a ceremony. Bring a blanket and enjoy a free early summer concert – a NYC favorite. And take a special trolley tour with Green-Wood Historian Jeff Richman right after the concert, featuring Green-Wood highlights and veteran connections.

Kick off Brooklyn Pride Week (June 8 – 13) in a most unique way, with an LGBT-themed trolley tour of Green-Wood! 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 others 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, including 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.

Join Green-Wood historian and exhibition curator Jeff Richman for a behind-the-scenes tour of To Bid You All Good Bye: Civil War Stories. Visitors will explore the inspiration behind the exhibition, learn about the process of selecting these compelling stories, and get insights on the exhibition from the curator himself.

Following the exhibition tour, Richman will lead a trolley tour through Green-Wood to visit the gravesites of several individuals highlighted in the exhibition.

Most New Yorkers and Americans never saw combat in the Civil War, but many civilians still contributed to the War effort in meaningful ways. Celebrate those individuals at this program with historian and curator Jeff Richman. For one night only, Green-Wood’s exhibition To Bid You All Good Bye: Civil War Stories will be enhanced - featuring additional stories and objects that particularly pertain to civilian efforts at wartime. Learn of patriotic deeds by New Yorkers including Reverend Gordon Winslow and Rebecca Winslow, who founded the Sanitary Commission to support sick and wounded soldiers; Simeon Chittenden, who paid bounties to 14th Brooklyn recruits from his own funds; Ann Vanderpoel—founder of the Ladies Home Hospital; and many others. New items, including original promotional posters from the Sanitary Fair, will be on display in the exhibition for this day only! Following the exhibition tour, Richman will lead a trolley tour through Green-Wood to visit the resting places of these important Civil War contributors.