The Golem: Its Origins and Its Futures
Legend has it that in the sixteenth century, in a secret mystical ritual, Rabbi Loew of Prague brought to life a creature with superhuman strength to defend the local Jewish community against anti-Semitic attacks. What he created was a golem, from the Hebrew meaning "shapeless man," whose origins can be traced back to the ancient world. Brian Contoir and Rabbi Dan Ain lead an eye-opening exploration into the many legends surrounding the golem, and how they have evolved through the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. What can humanist or religious perspectives teach us about this creature? Why has its story resonated across generations? Are there parallels with recent advancements in robotics, drones, and artificial intelligence?
Become a Citizen Pruner
Stewardship and pruning hugely reduce a tree’s vulnerability to common urban threats such as pedestrian and vehicular traffic, drought and storms. In New York City, where there is limited funding for tree maintenance but significant need, Citizen Pruners provide a great asset to our urban environment.
Twilight Tour
There are few places more atmospheric than a cemetery at dusk - and Green-Wood is top notch when it comes to beauty and atmosphere. As the sun sets on 478 spectacular acres, you'll weave through stunning landscapes and visit the graves of fascinating figures in New York and American history. This not-to-be-missed walking tour ends with a visit to the Catacombs, which are normally closed to the public.
Become a Citizen Pruner
Stewardship and pruning hugely reduce a tree’s vulnerability to common urban threats such as pedestrian and vehicular traffic, drought and storms. In New York City, where there is limited funding for tree maintenance but significant need, Citizen Pruners provide a great asset to our urban environment.
(Sold Out) Tiffany at Green-Wood
Green-Wood is home to an extraordinary collection of Tiffany stained glass. Join Green-Wood’s historian Jeff Richman and Lindsy Parrott (Director and Curator at the Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass) for this first-ever tour of the windows. Conservator Julie Sloan will also join us, as will Kent Watkins, an expert on Mary Tillinghast, a little-known, but immensely talented stained glass artist who is interred at Green-Wood. For security reasons, no photography will be permitted on this tour.
Magicians and Mediums
In the 1850s, New York City was absolutely agog for the tale of the three, young Fox sisters who claimed they heard mysterious knocking sounds that came from the spirits. (The oldest sister, Leah, and their parents, are interred at Green-Wood.) Later proven to be a hoax, the phenomenon sparked the popular and enduring movement of spiritualism. This walking tour will explore the legacies of Spiritualism and stage magic, which often came into conflict with each other. Visit the graves of many bizarre and fascinating practitioners of these two nineteenth-century phenomena.
(Canceled – Rain) Twilight Tour
There are few places more atmospheric than a cemetery at dusk - and Green-Wood is top notch when it comes to beauty and atmosphere. As the sun sets on 478 spectacular acres, you'll weave through stunning landscapes and visit the graves of fascinating figures in New York and American history. This not-to-be-missed walking tour ends with a visit to the Catacombs, which are normally closed to the public.
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. Copies of our new Bird Checklist will be available to all tour participants. Comfortable footwear is recommended.
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.
Death Café
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesThe Death Café is inspired by the centuries-old European salon (or café), an informal gathering to discuss philosophical, political or scientific ideas. In 2011, British entrepreneur Jon Underwood brought this concept to discussions of the most universal topic of all: death. Underwood’s intention was to provide an opportunity to “increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their lives.” Today, there are over 4,400 Death Cafes in 26 countries around the world.
Become a Citizen Pruner
Stewardship and pruning hugely reduce a tree’s vulnerability to common urban threats such as pedestrian and vehicular traffic, drought and storms. In New York City, where there is limited funding for tree maintenance but significant need, Citizen Pruners provide a great asset to our urban environment.
Twilight Tour
There are few places more atmospheric than a cemetery at dusk - and Green-Wood is top notch when it comes to beauty and atmosphere. As the sun sets on 478 spectacular acres, you'll weave through stunning landscapes and visit the graves of fascinating figures in New York and American history. This not-to-be-missed walking tour ends with a visit to the Catacombs, which are normally closed to the public.
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. Copies of our new Bird Checklist will be available to all tour participants. Comfortable footwear is recommended.
Become a Citizen Pruner
Stewardship and pruning hugely reduce a tree’s vulnerability to common urban threats such as pedestrian and vehicular traffic, drought and storms. In New York City, where there is limited funding for tree maintenance but significant need, Citizen Pruners provide a great asset to our urban environment.
Unmarked Graves
A gravestone marks the burial place of the deceased, but what about those who have lain anonymously for a century or more? For many reasons, a final resting place may be unmarked, leaving no physical indication of the burial. That’s why Green-Wood launched the Unmarked Graves Project in 2015. Join Green-Wood’s historian Jeff Richman for this first-ever visit to the recently marked graves of Currier and Ives’s leading artist Fanny Palmer; popular Civil War-era illustrators Edwin Forbes and Thure de Thulstrup; poet James Kirke Paulding, who wrote the popular “Peter Piper” tongue-twister, and more.
Twilight Tour
There are few places more atmospheric than a cemetery at dusk - and Green-Wood is top notch when it comes to beauty and atmosphere. As the sun sets on 478 spectacular acres, you'll weave through stunning landscapes and visit the graves of fascinating figures in New York and American history. This not-to-be-missed walking tour ends with a visit to the Catacombs, which are normally closed to the public.
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. Copies of our new Bird Checklist will be available to all tour participants. Comfortable footwear is recommended.
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.
Modern Loss: Candid Conversation About Grief. Beginners Welcome.
How do we navigate a loss? How do we share the unspeakably taboo, unbelievably hilarious, and unexpectedly beautiful terrain of grieving? Rebecca Soffer and Gabrielle Birkner, co-founders of the website Modern Loss, talk candidly about thriving in the face of grief, loss, and how to connect with other people who just "get" it. And absolutely no judgment, tips to help you "get over it", or the phrase "Everything happens for a reason." Join Green-Wood and Because Jewish for a conversation with Rebecca and Gabrielle about their new book, Modern Loss: Candid Conversation About Grief. Beginners Welcome, which explores empathy, resilience and the power of sharing our stories.
Moonlight Tours
Join other fearless trekkers to explore Green-Wood’s intriguing tombstones and unforgettable catacombs under the glow of the full moon. Historian Jeff Richman leads these immensely popular walking tours, which begin at sunset and are accompanied by the ethereal and atmospheric sounds of live accordion music. Buy your tickets soon; these tours always sell 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.
Secrets in Stone
There is a secret language at Green-Wood that’s etched upon the monuments: cemetery symbology. Learn the meaning of the inverted torch, bales of wheat, and an hourglass with wins, along with those that are a bit more difficult to decipher. This eye-opening walking tour will showcase the meaning of these eternal, but sometimes cryptic, images.
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.
