Event Series Death Café

Death Café

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

The 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.

(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.

Event Series Birding in Peace

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.

Event Series Historic Trolley Tours

Historic Trolley Tours

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

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.

Event Series Historic Trolley Tours

Historic Trolley Tours

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

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.

(Sold Out) Christina and Michelle Naughton: An American in Paris

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

The Washington Post writes of twin sister piano duo Christina and Michelle Naughton, “They have to be heard to be believed.” And indeed, the pair performs with an almost inconceivably telepathic connection. For The Angel’s Share, the Naughtons will play a program bookended by Leonard Bernstein, in celebration of his 100th birthday year (and because his final resting place is but a stone’s throw from the Catacombs). In between, the sisters will alternate between American and French composers, including Ravel’s shimmering Ma mère l'Oye and Debussy’s En Blanc et Noir.

(Sold Out) Battle of Brooklyn Trolley Tour

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

Join author and historian Barnet Schecter and Green-Wood historian Jeff Richman for a tour of Green-Wood’s Revolutionary War-related sites. This is a separate, ticketed tour, not included in general registration for the Commemoration events.

Battle of Brooklyn: Commemoration

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

The Battle of Brooklyn, fought in 1776 on land that is now a part of Green-Wood, was the first battle of the American Revolution to be waged after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Green-Wood hosts a day of commemoration to honor all those who served to defend the young republic. See parades, cannon fire, horses, and re-enactments. This is a great event for kids and families!

Event Series Historic Trolley Tours

Historic Trolley Tours

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

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.

(Sold Out) Christina and Michelle Naughton: An American in Paris

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

The Washington Post writes of twin sister piano duo Christina and Michelle Naughton, “They have to be heard to be believed.” And indeed, the pair performs with an almost inconceivably telepathic connection. For The Angel’s Share, the Naughtons will play a program bookended by Leonard Bernstein, in celebration of his 100th birthday year (and because his final resting place is but a stone’s throw from the Catacombs). In between, the sisters will alternate between American and French composers, including Ravel’s shimmering Ma mère l'Oye and Debussy’s En Blanc et Noir.

(Sold Out) Christina and Michelle Naughton: An American in Paris

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

The Washington Post writes of twin sister piano duo Christina and Michelle Naughton, “They have to be heard to be believed.” And indeed, the pair performs with an almost inconceivably telepathic connection. For The Angel’s Share, the Naughtons will play a program bookended by Leonard Bernstein, in celebration of his 100th birthday year (and because his final resting place is but a stone’s throw from the Catacombs). In between, the sisters will alternate between American and French composers, including Ravel’s shimmering Ma mère l'Oye and Debussy’s En Blanc et Noir.

Event Series Historic Trolley Tours

Historic Trolley Tours

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

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.

Zen and the Art of Dying

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

Join Green-Wood's death educator Amy Cunningham for an enlightening discussion with acclaimed death celebrant and founder of the Natural Death Centre in Byron Bay, Australia, Zenith Virago about how family-centered memorials can be the best beginning to the grieving process. She will explore how bereavement can be influenced and assisted by meaningful rituals. Virago, an advocate and educator, has been guiding the coastal region of Byron Bay for over 25 years towards a more creative, communal, and celebratory engagement with death and dying.

Event Series Historic Trolley Tours

Historic Trolley Tours

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

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.

Event Series Historic Trolley Tours

Historic Trolley Tours

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

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.

Event Series Jazz at Twilight

Jazz at Twilight

Celebrate summer at Green-Wood! Arrive just before the sun begins to dip below the horizon to enjoy sweeping views of the cemetery, New York Harbor, and downtown Manhattan awash in dazzling golden light. Then sit back and enjoy tunes from some of the best jazz bands in New York City as they play you into the night. Bring a blanket, pack a picnic, and take in the ambience of Green-Wood’s magnificent landscape at sunset.

Pollinators in Chief

Stroll through Green-Wood and you will certainly see (and hear) wild bees going about their daily routine. Female bees are collecting nectar and pollen, and males are busily looking for mates. Bee biologist Sarah Kornbluth of the American Museum of Natural History leads this walking tour to highlight how bees live, the resources they need, and where they make their homes across the cemetery. Learn about the diversity of wild bee species (including bumble, carpenter, miner, leaf cutter, sweat, and more) and beecome a bee expert in just two hours.

Event Series Dead Distillers Trolley Tour

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.

Event Series Birding in Peace

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 birds that make Green-Wood their home – at least temporarily. By September, offspring of these nesting birds 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 feathered denizens from the north.

Event Series Alive at Green-Wood

Alive at Green-Wood

There's a lot more to a cemetery than death. There's life - a lot of it. In fact, for Green-Wood, the natural environment is a critical part of our future. Join us for this new walking tour to explore the potential of the Cemetery's 478 acres as a public garden, a distinction that means much more than manicured lawns and azaleas. It means that we work to teach our visitors about Green-Wood's ecology and environmental diversity. As an accredited arboretum, the Cemetery has over 7,000 trees and a master plan that includes new interpretive panels (signs) across the grounds. You'll learn so much about the natural beauty and wildlife at Green-Wood that you'll want to come back and give your own tour to family and friends!

Event Series Historic Trolley Tours

Historic Trolley Tours

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

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.

Event Series Death Café

Death Café

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

The 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.

Event Series Historic Trolley Tours

Historic Trolley Tours

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

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.

2018 Green-Wood Benefit

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

We hope you will join us at 6 PM on September 12, 2018 at the Eleventh Annual Gala in support of the future of Green-Wood.

As Green-Wood commemorates its 180th year, we are proud to present our bold vision for its future: an Education and Welcome Center, incorporating the newly restored Weir Greenhouse, and a new and inviting front landscape that will visually unite the Center with our historic grounds and make Green-Wood more welcoming to the community. Funds raised through this event will advance these exciting projects.

Brooklyn and the Civil War

During the Civil War, Brooklyn was the third largest city in the Union, and more than 30,000 of its residents enlisted as soldiers and sailors. Join Green-Wood Historian Jeff Richman and writer Matthew Dellinger as they share the stories of Brooklynites who took up arms: Clarence D. MacKenzie, the 12 year-old drummer boy who became the first casualty of the Civil War from Kings County; Colonel Edward Fowler who led the 14th Brooklyn Infantry at Gettysburg; Brooklyn native “The Gallant Samuel Sims,” who died at the Battle of the Crater in Petersburg, Virginia; and many others. The tour will also explore the crucial role of women on the home front, namely those who organized The Brooklyn Sanitary Fair of 1864, which raised funds for clothing and medical supplies for the troops.

Event Series Secrets in Stone

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.

Event Series Historic Trolley Tours

Historic Trolley Tours

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

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.

Event Series Death Café

Death Café

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

The 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.

Event Series Historic Trolley Tours

Historic Trolley Tours

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

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.

Moonlight Tour

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.

Black in Nineteenth-Century Brooklyn

In 1838, just eleven years after New York State abolished slavery, a free Black man named James Weeks made his first purchase of land in Brooklyn. In the same year, Green-Wood Cemetery was established as one of the first rural cemeteries in the United States. This tour begins with a survey of the many prominent Black New Yorkers and abolitionists laid to rest at the Cemetery, including Margaret Pine (1778–1857), the last woman to have lived as a slave in New York, Susan Smith McKinney Steward (1847–1918), whose family owned land in Weeksville and who became first black female doctor in the state, and the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat (1959–1988), among many others. Then we head to Weeksville Heritage Center in Crown Heights to learn about its history (one of America’s largest free Black communities prior to the Civil War) through the stories of its residents.

Day of Remembrance

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

Remembrance is a unifying force when the pain of separation is validated and shared. This special evening embraces both the sadness and wisdom that stems from the loss of a loved one. With carefully selected poetry and music, we will share a beautiful series of rituals designed to heal and restore. The evening will conclude with the lighting of memorial lanterns at sunset and launching them onto Valley Water, a glacial pond near Green-Wood’s historic chapel.

Event Series Birding in Peace

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 birds that make Green-Wood their home – at least temporarily. By September, offspring of these nesting birds 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 feathered denizens from the north.

Event Series Historic Trolley Tours

Historic Trolley Tours

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

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.

Victorian Fads

From arsenic complexion cream and electric corsets, to séances and spirit photography, the Victorians missed no opportunity to jump on the bandwagon of wacky and sometimes outrageously dangerous fads. On this tour, discover complex and compelling figures behind these crazes, such as the curious lengths to which Victorian women went to achieve ultra-white skin and the strange and dangerous obsession with green dye in the fashions of the day.

(SOLD OUT) The JACK Quartet: Modern Medieval

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

The JACK Quartet were called “superheroes of the new music world” by The Boston Globe, and there could be no more apt description for this endlessly adventurous ensemble. They’ve played pieces completely in the dark, performed on a raft in the middle of a lake, and more. For The Angel’s Share, they will play an extraordinary program that follows a musical thread from medieval plainsong through to the present day, drawing sonic similarities from wildly divergent works and echoing the timelessness of the space surrounding them.

Event Series Historic Trolley Tours

Historic Trolley Tours

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

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.

Sculpture in Gotham

Art historian and Stony Brook professor Michele Bogart’s new book, Sculpture in Gotham: Art and Urban Renewal in New York City, explores how The Big Apple became an epicenter for public art in the second half of the twentieth century. Her research tracks the ways artists and civic leaders respond to the turbulent political and social climate to make dynamic and aspiring projects.

The Wicker Man: Ancient Origins and Modern Revival

Each year in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, a towering figure made of wicker known as “The Man” is ceremoniously set ablaze at the culmination of Burning Man, the iconoclastic festival of community and art. The Wicker Man, however, dates back to the ancient Celtic world, when the Druids burned these giant figures in effigy, purportedly sometimes containing human sacrifices. This lecture, led by former lawyer turned religious studies scholar Amy Slonaker, explores the history and modern revival of the Wicker Man in neo-pagan rites and pop culture events and where legend and fact diverge.

Event Series Twilight Tour

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.

Event Series Even More Tiffany

Even More Tiffany

Green-Wood is home to a spectacular collection of stained glass windows designed by prominent artists of nineteenth century, including Louis Comfort Tiffany and John La Farge. Join Lindsy Parrott (director and curator at the Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass), Julie Sloan (a leading expert on and conservator of American stained glass), Kent Watkins (biographer of Mary Tillinghast, a little-known, but immensely talented stained glass artist who is interred at Green-Wood), and Green-Wood Historian Jeff Richman for the second part of this incredibly popular tour. Your guides will share their expertise while guiding you across the Cemetery’s 478 acres in the comfort of the Green-Wood’s trolley, between stops at historic mausoleums.

A Walk Through Time

Architectural historian and author Francis Morrone has been named by Travel and Leisure magazine as one of the thirteen best tour guides in the world. Join him for his wit, wisdom and unique perspective on Green-Wood.

Event Series Twilight Tour

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.

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 nineteenth-century mausoleums. Peek inside the elaborate gates of these ancient stone structures to view 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.

Event Series Twilight Tour

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.

Event Series Historic Trolley Tours

Historic Trolley Tours

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

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.

Event Series Twilight Tour

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.

Event Series Birding in Peace

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 birds that make Green-Wood their home – at least temporarily. By September, offspring of these nesting birds 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 feathered denizens from the north.

Event Series Historic Trolley Tours

Historic Trolley Tours

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

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.

Event Series Twilight Tour

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.

Event Series Death Café

Death Café

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

The 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.

Event Series Historic Trolley Tours

Historic Trolley Tours

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

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.

(Sold Out) Gregg Kallor: Sketches from Frankenstein (World Premiere)

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

Mary Shelly’s groundbreaking novel Frankenstein was published 200 years ago. But far from the grunting Hollywood brutishness of Boris Karloff, the original told the heartbreaking story of a living, feeling creature, brought into the world only to be forsaken by his creator and left to fend for himself in a hostile world. Drawing the parallels to modern society, pianist/composer Gregg Kallor will offer the World Premiere of a new suite of operatic sketches based on the monster’s harrowing tale, in a partnership with On Site Opera. The program will also feature his other acclaimed vocal works, and the premiere of a solo piano piece in tribute to Leonard Bernstein.

(Sold Out) Gregg Kallor: Sketches from Frankenstein (World Premiere)

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

Mary Shelly’s groundbreaking novel Frankenstein was published 200 years ago. But far from the grunting Hollywood brutishness of Boris Karloff, the original told the heartbreaking story of a living, feeling creature, brought into the world only to be forsaken by his creator and left to fend for himself in a hostile world. Drawing the parallels to modern society, pianist/composer Gregg Kallor will offer the World Premiere of a new suite of operatic sketches based on the monster’s harrowing tale, in a partnership with On Site Opera. The program will also feature his other acclaimed vocal works, and the premiere of a solo piano piece in tribute to Leonard Bernstein.

(Sold Out) Gregg Kallor: Sketches from Frankenstein (World Premiere)

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

Mary Shelly’s groundbreaking novel Frankenstein was published 200 years ago. But far from the grunting Hollywood brutishness of Boris Karloff, the original told the heartbreaking story of a living, feeling creature, brought into the world only to be forsaken by his creator and left to fend for himself in a hostile world. Drawing the parallels to modern society, pianist/composer Gregg Kallor will offer the World Premiere of a new suite of operatic sketches based on the monster’s harrowing tale, in a partnership with On Site Opera. The program will also feature his other acclaimed vocal works, and the premiere of a solo piano piece in tribute to Leonard Bernstein.

Cubans at Green-Wood

Since it opened in 1838, Green-Wood has been the resting place of myriad immigrant communities who made new homes for themselves and their families in New York City. To honor this rich legacy, join John Jay professor and author of Sugar, Cigars, and Revolution: The Making of Cuban New York, Lisandro Perez and Green-Wood Historian Jeff Richman for a special trolley tour exploring famed Cuban immigrants of the nineteenth century who are interred here.

Calling on the Spirits

Discover the curious world of nineteenth-century mediums, magicians, and spiritualists in New York's foremost Victorian-era cemetery, Green-Wood. With a focus on the evolution and legacy of Spiritualism, this eye-opening trolley tour explores the era's obsession to commune with the dead and how this desire influenced entertainment, feminism, science, and technology. This tour is led by Andrea Janes, owner and founder of Boroughs of the Dead.

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.

Event Series Twilight Tour

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.

Event Series Me and My Sparrows

Me and My Sparrows

It’s a little known fact that the common house sparrow was introduced to North America right here at Green-Wood. In 1854, about 100 were brought from England and released in the Cemetery (as well as along the Narrows) as natural predators of the inchworms that were destroying trees throughout the city. Today there are approximately seventy-four million sparrows in the United States, and even veteran birders say they are among the most difficult to distinguish. Are you ready to take the sparrow challenge? From the American Tree Sparrow to the White-crowned Sparrow, this course will focus on the seventeen regularly-occurring New World sparrow species around the Big Apple, breaking down the basics of size, shape, and behavior.

Event Series Alive at Green-Wood

Alive at Green-Wood

There's a lot more to a cemetery than death. There's life - a lot of it. In fact, for Green-Wood, the natural environment is a critical part of our future. Join us for this new walking tour to explore the potential of the Cemetery's 478 acres as a public garden, a distinction that means much more than manicured lawns and azaleas. It means that we work to teach our visitors about Green-Wood's ecology and environmental diversity. As an accredited arboretum, the Cemetery has over 7,000 trees and a master plan that includes new interpretive panels (signs) across the grounds. You'll learn so much about the natural beauty and wildlife at Green-Wood that you'll want to come back and give your own tour to family and friends!

Event Series Historic Trolley Tours

Historic Trolley Tours

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

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.

Gay Green-Wood

Green-Wood celebrates LGBT History month with a special trolley tour illuminating permanent residents who have made a lasting impact on American culture in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. You will visit the graves of important LGBT figures including “It’s Raining Men” co-writer, Paul Jabara; sculptor of Central Park’s Bethesda Fountain, Emma Stebbins; activists and founders of the Hetrick Martin Institute, Drs. Emery Hetrick and Damien Martin, among others. This trolley tour is led by Andrew Dolkart and Ken Lustbader, Co-Directors of the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project.

Event Series Twilight Tour

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.

Event Series Historic Trolley Tours

Historic Trolley Tours

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

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.

Event Series Death Café

Death Café

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

The 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.

Nightfall

As night falls across Green-Wood, step through the iconic Gothic Arch and into an unforgettable experience of ethereal sights and sounds. Guided by the thousands of flickering candles, you’ll wander along the Cemetery’s winding paths and have chance encounters with musicians, moving images, performance artists, and storytellers. It all takes place against the stunning backdrop of one New York City’s most historic and storied landscapes, lit by the light of the silvery moon.

Femme Fatales

Many distinguished and noteworthy New Yorkers found their permanent residences at Green-Wood in the nineteenth century; it was the place to be buried. Among them, however, are also those whose reputations are not as admirable, including Fanny White, famed New York City courtesan and brothel manager; Emma Cunningham, who was tried for the murder of society dentist, Harvey Burdell (he was strangled and stabbed fifteen times) amidst rumors of greed, lust, and depravity; and the Dublin-born Kitty Terry, who ran away to Liverpool at fifteen where two high-end con men and thieves courted her and together formed a romantic triplet. Expert tour guide Ruth Edebohls will share tales of their alleged misdeeds and unscrupulous behavior.

Event Series Dead Distillers Trolley Tour

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.

Event Series Nightfall (SOLD OUT)

Nightfall (SOLD OUT)

As night falls across Green-Wood, step through the iconic Gothic Arch and into an unforgettable experience of ethereal sights and sounds. Guided by the thousands of flickering candles, you’ll wander along the Cemetery’s winding paths and have chance encounters with musicians, moving images, performance artists, and storytellers. It all takes place against the stunning backdrop of one New York City’s most historic and storied landscapes, lit by the light of the silvery moon.

Event Series Me and My Sparrows

Me and My Sparrows

It’s a little known fact that the common house sparrow was introduced to North America right here at Green-Wood. In 1854, about 100 were brought from England and released in the Cemetery (as well as along the Narrows) as natural predators of the inchworms that were destroying trees throughout the city. Today there are approximately seventy-four million sparrows in the United States, and even veteran birders say they are among the most difficult to distinguish. Are you ready to take the sparrow challenge? From the American Tree Sparrow to the White-crowned Sparrow, this course will focus on the seventeen regularly-occurring New World sparrow species around the Big Apple, breaking down the basics of size, shape, and behavior.

Event Series Historic Trolley Tours

Historic Trolley Tours

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

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.

Historic Trolley Tours (10/24/18 Sold Out)

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

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.

Full Moon Tour (Sold Out)

Lit by the brilliance of a full moon, you'll walk along the winding roads through Green-Wood's historic and storied landscape to discover 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.

Tree Stewardship

Learn how you can play an active role in supporting the health of our urban forest, including the basics of watering, tree bed gardening, and soil cultivation.

Spirited Stroll (Sold Out)

A perennial favorite! Get into the autumnal mood and enjoy a cool, crisp day exploring Green-Wood’s beautiful fall foliage. Historian Jeff Richman will lead this popular tour filled with tales of murder, mayhem, spirits, and the utterly bizarre. Visit the graves of The Wizard of Oz (actor, Frank Morgan), George Washington’s favorite dentist, the somewhat shady originator of Spiritualism, and many more. You’ll even get to tour Green-Wood’s Catacombs, which are usually closed to the public.

Event Series Twilight Tour

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.

Historic Trolley Tours (Sold Out)

Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States

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’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.