Architecture at Green-Wood
Green-Wood is home to a spectacular collection of 19th-century architectural gems by some of the most famed architects in American history. Designing works to immortalize their patrons, many –including James Renwick, Jacob Wrey Mould, and Gamaliel King, among others – have also established their own permanent residences here. This walking tour explores the critical role architects have played in transforming the landscapes of not only Green-Wood, but New York City. Comfortable footwear is recommended.
Birding in Peace
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesBefore 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.
(Sold Out) 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.
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.
Memorial Day Concert
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesIt’s a NYC favorite, now in its nineteenth year! Bring a blanket and enjoy this free early summer performance. The concert features the ISO Symphonic Band, founded in 1995 to sponsor talented students throughout New York City and led by the band’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. Enjoy the beautiful landscape with your fellow New Yorkers, as well local vendors selling food and drink throughout the day.
Memorial Day Walking and Trolley Tours
Two special tours, one walking and one trolley, begin immediately after the Memorial Day concert, featuring monuments and memorials with veteran connections.
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.
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.
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.
Birding in Peace
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesBefore 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. Locally nesting birds will be incubating eggs or actively raising their first broods.
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.
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.
Moonlight Tour
Explore Green-Wood, New York's most famous burial ground, on an after-hours walking tour led by the cemetery historian Jeff Richman. Alongside the melancholy and beautiful sounds of live accordion music, visitors will wend their way through the cemetery's landscape in the light of the full moon. Richman will present tales of the famous (and infamous) permanent residents like Boss Tweed, Louis Comfort Tiffany, and Leonard Bernstein, among many others.
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.
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) The Victorian Cult of Mourning
Join us for an afternoon symposium devoted to exploring the arts and culture of Victorian mourning with illustrated talks and show-and-tell presentations of period artifacts. Speakers will include Dr. Stanley Burns, professor of Medicine and Psychiatry and Founder of the Burns Photographic Archive, Green-Wood Historian Jeff Richman, Evan Michelson, co-owner of Obscura Antiques & Oddities and host of the Science Channel’s Oddities, funeral director Amy Cunningham, Jennifer Glassock, Research Associate at the Costume Institute, and more!
Photographing Green-Wood: Advice from an Expert
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesAlthough Green-Wood’s vast expanse of rolling hills, glacial ponds, and over 150 species of trees is one of New York City’s most loved green-spaces, it can be difficult to capture on film. In this class, Sean Sime, who has over 20 years of professional experience in journalism, fashion, and documentary photography, will share tips, techniques, and tools for capturing the splendor of nature.
Birding in Peace
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesBefore 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. Locally nesting birds will be incubating eggs or actively raising their first broods.
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.
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.
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 in an Hour
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesDon’t have a lot of time? These new tours are perfect for you. Green-Wood is an immense place, and a visit to our grounds can sometimes be overwhelming. What to see? Where to walk? That’s why we’ve created these short but power packed tours that give you a fascinating look at a single aspect of Green-Wood. On the third Friday of every month, one of our expert staff members will take you behind the scenes for rare insights into this historic cemetery. And after sixty minutes, you’re on your way!
Twilight Tour
Just after Green-Wood’s gates close to the public, enjoy the rare opportunity to explore the quiet beauty of the cemetery bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. On this walking tour you’ll visit the graves of fascinating figures in New York history and American culture from the 19th and early 20th centuries, ending with a visit to the catacombs, which are normally closed to visitors.
Mushrooming 101
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesWhile the colorful trees and migrating birds of Green-Wood get lots of buzz (and Instagram posts), visitors might not know about the bounty of mushrooms sprouting throughout the cemetery’s 478 verdant acres. Gary Lincoff, author of The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms and instructor at the New York Botanical Garden, leads an eye-opening exploration of the wonderful fungi on our grounds. Learn the basics of identifying mushrooms species and the crucial differences between edible and poisonous varieties. This tour is a great opportunity for novice and expert foragers alike for the next hike in the woods or trip to the farmers market.
(Sold Out) A Night of Victorian Tragedies
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesThe Victorians knew a thing or two about tragedy. They seemed to almost revel in tales of disaster and heartbreak. And a Victorian-era cemetery, like Green-Wood, has no dearth of these sad, sad stories. Greg Young, co-host of the award-winning NYC history podcast, The Bowery Boys, emcees a night of storytelling, where you and your fellow audience members will vote on the most tragic of Victorian tales.
Birding in Peace
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesBefore 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. Locally nesting birds will be incubating eggs or actively raising their first broods.
Death and Dharma
What can we learn from Buddhist teachings about our own lives on earth? How might we understand the impermanence of life within the expanding universe? In what ways might death inform our relationships with strangers, loved ones, and our own selves? These questions are the inspiration for a new series of lectures and meditations presented by the Brooklyn Zen Center (BZC) and Green-Wood that explore the complexities of death, dying, and the hereafter.
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.
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.
A Night of Blues, Folk and Rock in Support of Green-Wood
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesJoin us on the night the Green-Wood Chapel becomes a House of Blues! We are enormously proud and excited to present an evening of folk, blues, and rock music with the powerhouse duo of singer-guitarists Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams. Three time Grammy Award-winning Larry Campbell – best known for his eight years with Bob Dylan – has played with Elvis Costello, Elvis Costello, Willie Nelson, and Levon Helm’s Midnight Rambles, to name just a few. And Teresa, who met Larry when she was playing at the Bottom Line in the ‘80s, has sung with giants like Mavis Staples and Emmylou Harris. That’s why this performance by “the first couple of Americana” (Mojo Magazine) at Green-Wood, a National Historic Landmark, is a perfect marriage.
Ahoy New York!
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesNew York’s harbor is at the center of the city’s evolution from colonial trading outpost to global capital for business and industry. Join Jeff Richman, Green-Wood’s historian, and Marian Betancourt, author of the recently-published Heroes of New York Harbor: Tales from the City’s Port, for a special trolley tour exploring Green-Wood’s permanent residents who set their sights on this famous port of call. You will learn about the men who spearheaded the Erie Canal, Brooklyn Bridge, and Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel; maritime disasters that inspired iconic memorials like the Pilot’s Monument, men who served on the first ironclad warship USS Monitor, and much more.
Celebrate the Summer Solstice with Jazz at Twilight (Members Only)
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesSweet Megg and the Wayfarers, a five piece band influenced by New Orleans, Harlem swing and Parisian cabaret, will play you into the night with their uniquely beautiful and melancholic tunes. Arrive just before the sun begins to dip below the horizon to enjoy sweeping views of the cemetery and New York harbor awash in golden light.
Birding in Peace
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesBefore 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. Locally nesting birds will be incubating eggs or actively raising their first broods.
Striking Likenesses
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesWhen Green-Wood Cemetery opened in the early 19th century, the art of posthumous portraiture was immensely popular. As a form of commemoration, these portraits of recently deceased loved ones were prized for the precious bond they created between the land of the living and the realm of the dead. This walking tour explores the stone and bronze images commissioned to immortalize the dearly departed, many of which were created by leading artists of the day, including sculptors Daniel Chester French, John Quincy Ward, and Charles Calverley, among others. Allison Meier, a staff writer for Hyperallergic, who specializes in the visual culture of overlooked history, will unravel how the Victorian age’s obsession with images of the dead was also found in painted portraits and postmortem daguerreotypes.
Death and Dharma
What can we learn from Buddhist teachings about our own lives on earth? How might we understand the impermanence of life within the expanding universe? In what ways might death inform our relationships with strangers, loved ones, and our own selves? These questions are the inspiration for a new series of lectures and meditations presented by the Brooklyn Zen Center (BZC) and Green-Wood that explore the complexities of death, dying, and the hereafter.
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.
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.
Twilight Tour
Just after Green-Wood’s gates close to the public, enjoy the rare opportunity to explore the quiet beauty of the cemetery bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. On this walking tour you’ll visit the graves of fascinating figures in New York history and American culture from the 19th and early 20th centuries, ending with a visit to the catacombs, which are normally closed to visitors.
The Eminent Irish of Green-Wood (Sold Out)
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States9th-century Irish immigration contributed immeasurably to the rich tapestry of American culture. Green-Wood has its share of the illustrious sons and daughters of Eire. This trolley tour, led by Green-Wood historian Jeff Richman, will explore these notable Irish, including copper magnate, Marcus Daly; India Ink manufacturer and American patriot, Charles Higgins; one-armed Civil War General, Thomas Sweeney (who retired from the U.S. military but went on to lead the Fenian invasion of Canada); Irish patriot Wolfe Tone’s widow and son; actress and mistress of the mighty, Lola Montez, and many more.
Birding in Peace
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesBefore 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. Locally nesting birds will be incubating eggs or actively raising their first broods.
Death and Dharma
What can we learn from Buddhist teachings about our own lives on earth? How might we understand the impermanence of life within the expanding universe? In what ways might death inform our relationships with strangers, loved ones, and our own selves? These questions are the inspiration for a new series of lectures and meditations presented by the Brooklyn Zen Center (BZC) and Green-Wood that explore the complexities of death, dying, and the hereafter.
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.
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.
Birding in Peace
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesBefore 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. Locally nesting birds will be incubating eggs or actively raising their first broods.
Death and Dharma
What can we learn from Buddhist teachings about our own lives on earth? How might we understand the impermanence of life within the expanding universe? In what ways might death inform our relationships with strangers, loved ones, and our own selves? These questions are the inspiration for a new series of lectures and meditations presented by the Brooklyn Zen Center (BZC) and Green-Wood that explore the complexities of death, dying, and the hereafter.
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.
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.
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.
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.
