What Green-Wood Cemetery Is and Where to Find It

Green-Wood Cemetery is a 478-acre burial ground in Brooklyn, New York, established in 1838. It sits on a hilltop in the neighborhoods of Sunset Park and Greenwood Heights, bordered by Prospect Expressway to the north and 25th Street to the south. The cemetery is one of the oldest landscaped cemeteries in the United States and was designed as a garden cemetery — a style that treats the grounds as a park where people visit to walk, reflect, and remember the dead.

The cemetery opened during a time when New York City's burial grounds were overcrowded and unsanitary. Green-Wood was built outside the city limits as a solution, and it quickly became a destination for both burial and leisure. Thousands of New Yorkers visited on weekends to walk the paths, see the monuments, and spend time in nature. That dual purpose — cemetery and public space — continues today.

Green-Wood is not run by the city. It is a private, nonprofit organization that owns and maintains the grounds, though it operates under New York State law and is open to the public during daylight hours. The main entrance is at 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, and there is a visitor center just inside the gates.

Key Takeaways

  • Green-Wood Cemetery opened in 1838 as a 478-acre garden cemetery designed to serve as both a burial ground and a public park.
  • The cemetery holds the remains of more than 600,000 people, including prominent figures in American history, art, business, and entertainment.
  • Visitors can walk the grounds during daylight hours free of charge, and the cemetery offers guided tours that focus on history, architecture, and notable burials.
  • The grounds contain thousands of monuments, mausoleums, and chapels built in styles ranging from Gothic Revival to Art Deco.
  • Green-Wood maintains detailed burial records and a searchable online database that allows people to locate graves and learn about the people buried there.

Notable People Buried at Green-Wood

Green-Wood holds the remains of more than 600,000 people, and among them are figures whose names appear in history books, art museums, and business records. Jean-Michel Basquiat, the painter and street artist who became famous in the 1980s, is buried there. So is Boss Tweed, the Tammany Hall politician whose corruption shaped New York City politics in the 19th century. Lena Horne, the singer and actress who broke racial barriers in entertainment, is also interred at Green-Wood.

Other notable burials include Charles Ebbets, the founder of the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team; Currier and Ives, the printmakers whose images of American life became iconic; and Henry Chadwick, a sportswriter credited with inventing the baseball box score. Samuel Morse, the inventor of the telegraph, is buried there as well. The cemetery also holds graves of Civil War generals, mayors of New York City, and dozens of people whose names appear in the city's founding documents and early history.

The cemetery maintains a searchable online database on its website where visitors can look up a person's name and find the section, lot, and grave number. This tool makes it possible to locate a specific grave before visiting, though the grounds are large enough that a map from the visitor center is useful even with this information.

The Architecture and Layout of the Grounds

Green-Wood was designed by David Bates Douglass, a landscape architect who drew inspiration from Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts — one of the first garden cemeteries in America. The grounds are laid out in sections with names like Ravine, Hillside, and Cypress Hill, and paths wind through the landscape following the natural topography. The highest point in Brooklyn, Prospect Hill, sits within Green-Wood's boundaries.

The monuments and structures on the grounds span many architectural styles and periods. There are Gothic Revival chapels, Egyptian Revival tombs, and Victorian mausoleums with stained glass windows. Some graves are marked with straightforward headstones; others are surrounded by elaborate iron fences and topped with sculptures. The Green-Wood Cemetery Chapel, built in 1861, is a Gothic Revival structure with a tall spire that is visible from many parts of Brooklyn. Several mausoleums are open to the public during visiting hours, and their interiors contain marble, tile work, and stained glass from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The cemetery also contains several monuments of historical significance, including a Civil War memorial and monuments to victims of shipwrecks and other disasters. Many of these structures are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Visiting Green-Wood: Hours, Admission, and What to Expect

Green-Wood is open to the public during daylight hours year-round. Hours vary by season: in winter, the gates typically close at 4 p.m., while in summer they remain open until 7 p.m. There is no admission fee to enter the grounds or walk the paths. Parking is available in a lot near the main entrance, and the visitor center provides maps, information about notable graves, and details about upcoming events.

The grounds are large and hilly, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Many of the paths are paved, but some are gravel or dirt. Bicycles are permitted on certain paths, and the cemetery publishes a map showing which routes allow cycling. Dogs on leashes are allowed. Picnicking is permitted in designated areas, and many visitors bring food and spend hours on the grounds.

The cemetery offers guided tours led by staff members or volunteers who know the history of the grounds and the stories of people buried there. Tours focus on different themes — Civil War history, notable artists, Brooklyn's industrial past, or architectural styles — and typically last one to two hours. Information about tour schedules and registration is available on the cemetery's website or by calling the visitor center.

How to Find a Specific Grave

Green-Wood maintains detailed burial records dating back to 1838. The cemetery's website includes a searchable database where you can enter a person's name and receive their section number, lot number, and grave location. This information is usually enough to find a grave with the help of a map from the visitor center, though the grounds are extensive and some sections are not when ready visible from the main paths.

If you cannot find someone in the online database, you can contact the cemetery's records office by phone or email. Staff members can search their archives and provide location information. If you are looking for a grave from many decades ago, it helps to have an approximate year of death, though the cemetery can often locate records with just a name.

Some graves are easier to locate than others. Prominent monuments and mausoleums are marked on the cemetery's map, and staff at the visitor center can point you toward them. Smaller headstones in older sections may require more time to find, especially if the section is large or overgrown.

Green-Wood's Role in Brooklyn History and Culture

When Green-Wood opened in 1838, it was one of the first major public spaces in Brooklyn where people could spend leisure time outdoors. Before Central Park was built in Manhattan, Green-Wood served a similar function — it was a destination for walks, picnics, and reflection. Thousands of New Yorkers visited on weekends, and the cemetery became a symbol of Brooklyn's growth and cultural importance.

The cemetery's influence on American cemetery design was significant. Its success as a garden cemetery inspired the creation of similar grounds in other cities. It also influenced the development of public parks, as the idea of creating beautiful, accessible outdoor spaces for the public became more popular during the 19th century.

Today, Green-Wood remains an active burial ground and a cultural institution. The cemetery hosts events, lectures, and exhibitions related to its history and the people buried there. It is also a National Historic Landmark, a designation that recognizes its architectural and historical importance. For many Brooklyn residents and visitors, it is both a place of remembrance and a unique historical resource.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I visit Green-Wood Cemetery without a tour?

Yes. The grounds are open to the public during daylight hours, and you can walk the paths, locate graves, and explore the monuments without joining a guided tour. A map from the visitor center helps you navigate the sections. Tours are optional and are useful if you want to learn the stories behind specific graves or the history of the cemetery itself.

Is there a cost to visit or to be buried at Green-Wood?

There is no cost to visit the grounds. Burial at Green-Wood is available but requires purchasing a lot or grave space, which varies in price depending on location and size. Contact the cemetery's office for information about burial options and costs.

How do I learn about someone is buried at Green-Wood?

Use the searchable database on Green-Wood's website by entering the person's name. If the name does not appear, contact the cemetery's records office by phone or email with the person's name and approximate year of death. Staff can search the archives and provide location information if the person is buried there.

Can I bring children or pets to Green-Wood?

Yes. Children are welcome, and the grounds can be a peaceful place for a walk or a picnic. Dogs on leashes are permitted. The cemetery asks that visitors be respectful of the graves and the people visiting them.

What is the best time of year to visit Green-Wood?

Spring and fall offer pleasant weather and beautiful scenery, as trees and plants change with the seasons. Summer is warm but can be crowded on weekends. Winter is quieter and offers views of the landscape without heavy foliage. The cemetery is open year-round, so the best time depends on your preference for weather and crowds.