“Death Becomes Her–A Century of Mourning Attire,” is now on display at The Metropolitan Museum. Running through February 1, 2015, it displays extraordinary mourning costumes, mostly for women, and related accessories, which were in use for the century between 1815 and 1915. These are mostly high end outfits–courtesy of the Met’s Costume Institute. Many of … Read more
Last week, Chelsea Dowell, Green-Wood’s manager of programs and membership, and I went over to the studios of Brooklyn Independent Media (BRIC) to shoot a live segment about the cemetery. Shot at BRIC’s Arts Media House, corner of Fulton Street and Rockwell Place, “BK LIVE,” is a one hour show about Brooklyn, broken into four … Read more
Green-Wood is indeed a place for all seasons. This year has been a wonderfully colorful fall at Green-Wood. Here are a few images that I shot yesterday. I thought I might have been a bit late going out, but it really was spectacular. If you have a chance to get out on the grounds this … Read more
I spent last weekend down in Fredericksburg, Virginia, taking part in the Center for Civil War Photography’s annual 3-day (and 3-D) Image of War Seminar. People gather from all over America to see photographs, some in 3-D, of the Civil War–at the places where they were taken 150 years ago. Friday was a particularly interesting … Read more
Every once in while something of great interest–though not great monetary value–comes out of someone’s drawer or closet and finds its home. So it is with the little piece of paper discussed below. Since 2002, volunteers with our Civil War Project have identified 5,000 veterans at Green-Wood and written a biography for each of them.. … Read more
Who doesn’t love a house tour? And how about a “house tour” of cemetery mausoleums? Now you’re talking! We started this event a few years ago, opening up mausoleums to the public, with volunteers in character and in costume greeting visitors. And it has caught on–and gotten bigger and better each year. This year, we … Read more
Though largely forgotten today, John McComb (1763-1853) was one of New York’s most prominent early architects. His credits include several important buildings still standing two centuries later: New York City’s City Hall, Gracie Mansion, Alexander Hamilton’s Grange, as well as the Montauk and Eaton’s Neck Lighthouses. To learn more about McComb, go to the wonderful … Read more
Green-Wood’s exhibition, “William F. Mangels: Amusing the Masses on Coney Island and Beyond,” is now open every day between noon and 6:00 p.m. through October 26. Come visit! Why an exhibition about William F. Mangels? Who was he, anyway? Well, though you may not recognize Mangels’s name, he made vital contributions to the great American … Read more
Our exhibition, “William F. Mangels: Amusing the Masses on Coney Island and Beyond,” opens to the public in our Historic Chapel on September 7–in less than two months. Much to do! Now that we have successfully raised money from our Kickstarter backers, a grant through City Council Member Carlos Menchaca, the corporate sponsorship of Luna … Read more
I feel like I know Henry Augustus Sand pretty well. Not that I ever met him. After all, he died in 1862. But, I have read a great deal about him, his service to his country, and his ultimate sacrifice. He is, of course, interred at Green-Wood. I told his noble, heroic, yet sad story … Read more