Preserving Brooklyn
Some of the very best work in historic preservation – the restoration of old structures and monuments that give a city its character and history – is being done right here in Brooklyn. Whether at Green-Wood, with its tens of thousands of gravestones, mausoleums, stained glass windows, and landmarked structures, or across the borough, these important projects are keeping Brooklyn in the forefront of the field. Come hear about best practices that ensure that our most beautiful structures do not vanish from the borough’s ever-changing landscape.
Altered States: Mediums, Mambos, and Michael Jackson
In this illustrated presentation, award-winning photographer and author Shannon Taggart will share original photographs from her 17 year-long exploration of séances and the endeavor to blur the lines between life and death. She will discuss the curious ways that Spiritualist mediums, Vodou practitioners, and also the “King of Pop” Michael Jackson have used altered states of consciousness in their quests to access invisible realms. Her photographs have been exhibited and featured internationally in TIME, New York Times Magazine, Discover, and Newsweek. Taggart’s book, SÉANCE: Spiritualist Ritual and the Search for Ectoplasm, will be released in 2019.
(Sold Out) Mushrooming 101
While 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. Ethan Crenson, a longtime member of the New York Mycological Society leads an exploration of Green-Wood’s fungi. Learn the basics of identifying mushroom species and the crucial differences between edible and poisonous varieties. This tour is a great opportunity for novice and expert mycologists alike to gain important insights for the next hike in the woods or trip to the farmers market.
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.
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.
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.
Preserving Identity
This trolley tour will focus on the monuments of immigrants and underrepresented groups, for whom written records, newspaper clippings, and obituaries are often nonexistent. And for whom, the gravestone and cemetery records – an oft overlooked resource – are the only way to preserve their legacy. While all New Yorkers play in important role in the lives of their families and their communities, some – especially in the nineteenth century – leave very few traces for posterity.
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!
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.
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.
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.
