Green-Wood

No matter what the weather is the Green-​Wood cemetery looks absolutely amazing, whether it’s winter or summer, overcast, rain, day or night, no matter. This place really brings you back to old Victorian era and it’s splendor, even in death.

Crossing off from my NYC bucket list.
Unbelievably unique fun experience we had in this place last Halloween. Who would have thought that grave hunting will be such a spooky fun adventure… until you are on it? Their map which can be requested from their office has suggested notable people that has been buried here and its gravesite locator is easy to follow. Don’t start the trek without it if plan to visit. It took us more than two hours exploring the cemetery by walk and by car on looking for our selected people. We visited Bernstein, Tiffany family, Fred Ebb and Morse graveyards. It is allowed to park the car on the curb side of the section you are stopping by. It’s streets are named. Lots of signs are visible that definitely will keep you on track. Three entrances/​exits are at your discretion to use. We both came in and out at the main entrance with gothic styled gate– the one at the 25^th street.
A magnificent view of the New York harbor can be seen from the highest elevation point of the cemetery which once was the site of the Battle of Brooklyn (revolutionary war) in 1776. A beautiful monument was erected in honor of the troops who fight for liberty and justice and independence during the war. Don’t miss to check on this Battle Hill when you visit… It is the reason why it’s hailed as national historic landmark since 2006. You’ll enjoy having a photo op next to Minerva who is standing facing Lady Liberty.
We had the chance to spend quiet moment both on its lakes section. It was peaceful, quiet, a good place for some reflections. The awe inspiring trees (fall foliage rules!) and the manicured lawns and the frogs, the geese, the birds will all help you forget that you are in a cemetery.
It’s worth visiting the place. A good excuse for a great walk as the place is huge. It’s sculpture detailing and extraordinary tombstones, mausoleums are worth enough for a visit. Definitely I had no regrets for the time and effort placed. Possibly to return as we missed the chapel that some reviewers mentioned has stained windows, aged but still has its charismatic presence.
By the way, i heard it held musical performances and engagements during other special days. Doesn’t need to come here on Halloween day if the idea is creepy for you. Also, there is scheduled trolley tour at your convenience.

Really interesting cemetary (with an app). Fund for walking tours. Also the highest point in Brooklyn.

Green-​Wood Cemetery is an entirely special and unique place. While, yes, it is a graveyard (and a seemingly endless one at that), upon entering, it feels as though one has entered into another world completely. It was utterly quiet and peaceful, in a way that was almost spooky, but more awe-​inspiring. It makes for a great walk, especially on an ideal fall day such as this one. Didn’t cover the whole place (500 acres), and will definitely be back. A wonderful place for reflection and much needed breaks from city life. It never felt crowded-​my friend and I saw very few people. I’ll say that this place really set my imagination aflame in the best possible way-it’s a bit like entering particularly beautiful gothic fairytale. I don’t usually wax so poetic, but this place had a real effect on me. Go! You absolutely won’t regret it.

Dropped by after Prospect Park, wondering how I’d yet to stroll through, then realized there’s no neighborhood on the Unilocal listing (which also has some hilarious, irrelevant tips from the same dude) and a disgraceful lack of sidewalks on some borders’ approaches. Will concede it’s intense to navigate the entire thing on foot even for someone who walks nearly 100 miles a week, largely due to the frequent elevation changes.

Taking a walk through Green-​wood cemetery was one of the few remaining items I had left to tackle on my «30 before 30 NYC edition» list. I checked it out today and it was as beautiful as I expected! I entered through the main gate at 25^th and 5^th. I was walking but they do allow you to drive and park inside the gate, in addition to there being multiple bike racks.
There’s a large castle like structure that beckons you through to the cemetery grounds. There’s also a security guard or two posted here if you need a direction to get started. The cemetery is huge so it’s good to have a game plan, grab a map, or pay attention to where you’re wandering. I chose option 3 and very much enjoyed my wandering. It’s a beautiful cemetery with incredible lower Manhattan skyline views from the high points. It’s pretty incredible to see the range in tombstones, from tiny ones to huge huge ones the size of a small cottage. The grounds are incredibly well maintained and it’s a very peaceful feel (I didn’t think it was creepy as some others mentioned). There’s a beautiful church you can explore (I read it was designed by the same man who designed grand central) and numerous bodies of water.
If you have something specific you’d like to see, check out the map beforehand or plan to take one of their offered tours. They also have a number of special events (I.e. Explore the catacombs!) which looked pretty interesting as well.

i can’t believe i didnt go visit this place earlier. It’s peaceful, and seriously beautiful. Weird, because it’s full of dead people, but it really is worth the visit.
Basquiat, Tweed, the boss, Morse, Tiffany and many more are buried there. go and take a walk, you wont regret it. I believe they have a trolley tour on Wednesdays

This is a beautiful landmark that is often undiscovered for lots of people. It is definitely worth a visit to see this beautiful cemetery that serves as the final resting place of so many famous people; the well manicured lawns and beauty of the area almost makes one forget the fact that ultimately this is a graveyard (ooh, spooky!).

Who would think that a CEMETERY would be a tourist attraction, right here in Brooklyn?
Well, I took the plunge yesterday, and actually went there to look up the grave of a former Mayor of NY I was interested in.
Mike, the guard at the beautiful Gothic entrance to the cemetery, was most knowledgeable and helpful. You can get a map of the cemetery and look up the grave of whoever you are interested in. So many historical NY people are buried there– «Boss» Tweed, Tiffany (stained glass), William Jay Gaynor (Mayor of NY), etc.
The grounds are beautiful and very peaceful. Not creepy at all, but humbling when you stop to think that all of the people buried here were once among us, the great and the small.
It’s free to enter, and guided tours are available.

The truth first: I’ve been to two organized theater-​type events and — once was just to try, the second time is a no thanks. Save your money for the guided tours instead: Green-​Wood is such a big and historical space that you’re going to benefit from (1) the trolley and (2) the guide. It’s formulaic to say, «It’s so interesting learning about the history of Green-​Wood in relation to Brooklyn and New York City», but it was so interesting learning about the history of Green-​Wood in relation to Brooklyn and New York City. Our tour guide was kind of a ham and went off on a riff about education, but her enthusiasm was obvious. You can also get a big map from the visitor’s center at 25^th St and 5^th Ave and take yourself for a walk. No dogs and no bikes allowed.

Creepy as hell but great to come during Halloween time to wander this amazing and historic cemetery. The crypts, tomb stones and mausoleums are all amazing and beautiful. It’s very hilly so I recommend bringing a car and driving around the park if you can. There’s a shuttle bus that comes around but wait times are long and it’s a waste of money. Again, come in October and enjoy the beautiful foliage.

A fantastic green and hilly cemetery with history buried on its grounds.
Beautiful vistas from hilly views are worth the hike up.

Greenwood is a great, under-​the-​radar destination for views and nature in Brooklyn. It might seem creepy to hang out in a cemetery, but as I learned on one of their tours, Greenwood used to be the place to go to see public art before Brooklyn was connected to Manhattan. They continue the tradition to this day, and you can find several sculptures that Greenwood saved when other venues were going to throw them away. If you go all the way up the hill, there’s a nice view of the Statue of Liberty. They have specialized tours for enthusiasts of history, sculpture, even baseball. Give it a try!

The land of the dead… quiet, peaceful, except for the sound of birds chirping. It’s fascinating to walk through the cemetery looking around at all the tombs and tombstones. It’s so large, it’s quite hard to find a famous person’s tomb — even with a map! I was looking for Louis Comfort Tiffany’s grave and while I found the hill it’s on, I didn’t find the specific gravestone.
Walking around, you’re reminded of those who have come before and of history. I went in through the main entrance and saw the small chapel, but have yet to explore the rest of Greenwood. There’s so many acres! I need to take a tour!

There is something about Green-​Wood that inspires awe and reverence. It’s certainly in part because so many folks are at peace here, visited by loving family and friends, but it is so much more. I love Rachel’s comparison to Pere Lachaise, but I’d go so far to say it’s even nicer, since I find PL to be a bit oppressive and G-​WC to instead give a feeling of openness and natural greenness.
Back in the day, before ol’ Central Park, city planners started to notice people going for strolls and picnicking on top of graves! Not only the loved ones of the dearly departed, but other people who lived nearby and appreciated the serene setting, the trees, grass, flowers — and the views! This part of Brooklyn is one of its highest points. There are so many gorgeous statues, stones, mausoleums of famous people, yes, but of true New Yorkers, as well. A friend likes to remind me when I post photos (because I have taken a LOT of photos here over the years) that his grandfather is buried here. My grandparents and my mother are buried so far away, outside of the city, that it makes me really happy to know someone personally who can come to such an amazing place nearby to pay his respects. I understand the planning shift to moving cemeteries to less central land, but I love that Green-​Wood is here to stay. As the inspiration for the planners of Central Park, take a visit and you can see why.
I wish more New Yorkers knew about this beauty and that more visitors came to see it, but in a way, it’s for the best, since you are sure to pass by others but never to be overwhelmed by a group. You can’t picnic on a grave anymore (a little respect, please!) but there is a grassy area near the small reservoir and a bit away from the graves, where I have seen people sit on a blanket and have something small.
The main entrance is not to be missed, but if you plan to exit that way, you may find it easier to plan your route if you start at one of the other entrances, like the one on Ft. Hamilton Pkwy. From there you can wend your way along the paths and see quite a bit in a few hours. And I would allot at least two and as much as four if you can spare it. You will not regret it!

There is no way anything else could have been review Number 600.
The Green-​Wood Cemetery is oddly one of my favorite places in all of New York. Mostly, because it is empty of people. At least the living. And it is filled with breath-​taking beauty. I usually tend to wander off towards the giant monoliths and their giant chapel which was created by Warren and Wetmore in 1911. (They also designed the Grand Central Terminal, The Yale Club, and The New York Yacht Club for those interested and geeking out on the Gothic inspired architecture). The Gothic revival style gates that are visible from the street and at the main entrance were designed by Richard Upjohn in 1861. Gargoyles, baby angels, Tombs, adorn lost pathways to enchanting trees. Its a great place to get lost in and find some peace of mind. I also have fond memories of playing Buffy the Vampire Slayer here with my old roommate. Who can find the exit first before we get trapped inside before it closes and the sun goes down?! Rolls with laughter.
They also have historic trolley tours in the afternoons (which I’ve never participated in, it’s about $ 15) and some interesting sounding events each month. Presently in November they are doing something on Murders, Mayhem and Disasters! A wonderful place to repose. Don’t forget to check out the lily pad pond in back of the Chapel.

…Why on earth would you go to hang out at cemetery, you would ask? Alone??? You are such a creep… (thanks!)
Not so fast, dearest! This is not just any cemetery. This is Green-​Wood. This is the City of Dead. This is your Avernus Cemetery of Gotham city itself.
When I say city, I do not exaggerate. It’s huge. You can walk around, or you can drive endless crooked streets of it. Those streets have names!
There are several entrances — you may come from central one on 5^th, where this gothic beauty raises over you like true Notre Dame of Brooklyn…
Make sure to listen and look up as you walk in — Green-​Wood is a home for hundreds of Quaker parrots (which, btw, are illegal to keep in NY), you can hear them making racket in the trees that line up the entrance alley — you can also see their enormous nests on top of the gothic spires of the gate.
From any entrance, you can pick up the map (trust me, you will need it), and either head up and drive around, or take a Green Trolley Tour, or walk to the top of Battle Hill. This is highest point of Brooklyn, and views of the city and peacefulness of it are indescribable. There are a lot of benches to sit on and enjoy the views.
To the left of the gate, there are several modern architectural marvels to discover, with koi swimming in the ponds and bamboo whispering in the wind. Past that, 103-​year-​old Chapel is well worth visiting — both interior, exterior, and stained glass work are extraordinary.
If you need to take some time for peace and quiet and relax for a bit, walk to the lakes from here — benches are plentiful, and water lilies are beautiful. Little frogs that occupy those ponds are are cute as buttons, too — very easily scared tho.
I personally favor Hamilton Ave entrance, it is less touristy there, a lot of older sculptures and detailing at the burials can be found. Seriously, the sculptural detailing alone and gargoyles are worth the trip.
Please make sure to read the rules on the map — no jogging, loud music, pets or food allowed here. Nor videotaping is allowed (pictures are OK — hooray!)
Catacombs tours (which I did not do yet) open to public only once a year — I will try to come back to that. In addition to trolley tours, walking tours and excursions are available — check their website, they sell out fast.
So much to see and explore, views, walks, greenery and nature are amazing — there are lots of sanctuary elements here…
…one more time, it is not creepy. It is beautiful.

Für mich der schönste Friedhof von ganz NYC. — Hier lohnt die Fahrt. Alleine schon der Eingang ist für deutsche Augen ungewohnt protzig und bombastisch. Sehr großes und weitläufiges Gelände, für New York auch überraschend bergig! Von schlicht über protzig bis sensationell, die Palette der Grabmäler ist herzerfrischend.
Unbedingt ausfindig machen: das Grabmal mit der Minerva als Statue, sie winkt der Freiheitsstatue zu. Geil gemacht!!!

Amazing historic cemetery dedicated in 1838; it is a fascinating park like setting in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The trees, ponds, extravagant memorials and mausoleums are a rare sight. There’s a whole section for Civil War & WWI KIA which is very moving, especially thinking about all of the wars and conflicts since.
Went during a recent trip home to pay respects to my Maternal family interred here, it is hilly, grassy and those majestic trees are just stunning. It is such a place of interest that tours are conducted for the public to view the more famous/​original/​ornate memorials and the truly lovely grounds. A sad part is there was a recent defacing of tombstones by vandals, but public outcry helped to raise funds to repair or replace damaged or destroyed monuments. The Children’s Cemetery within always moves me.
If you happen to be in NYC in spring when trees are blossoming or fall when the leaves are changing to their autumn palette, a tour just might be an interesting and educational way to spend a few hours. Many photographers have shot iconic photos here. Halloween is a popular time for tours and there’s usually a Memorial Day Concert by the Chapel.
A place of peace and beauty I always try to include in trips home, it will be the resting place of most of my family someday. This kind of history just doesn’t exist where I live now, and the tranquil unique setting must be experienced firsthand to truly be appreciated.
A few facts/​points of interest:
— It is a dedicated National Landmark
— in August of 1776, the first major battle after Declaring Independence from
Britain on 4 July was fought here: The Battle of Long Island (aka the Battle of Brooklyn)
— it is the highest point in Brooklyn; look for Minerva statue waving to the Statue of Liberty (this is on Battle Lane regarding the above-​referenced event)
— fantastic bird watching, the most famous are the flocks of feral parakeets (most by entrance)
— lots of Civil War heroes buried here, and they have their own section of markers.
— Leonard Bernstein, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Horace Greeley and Basquiat are among just a few of the many noteworthy people resting here
Unique, interesting place to visit or take one of the tours, remembering you are on sacred ground. Posing while standing on tombstones or other tactless behavior is incredibly disrespectful.
Check their website for special events, catacombs tours and more. The catacombs here are nothing like the ones in Paris, keep that in mind when booking a tour. The cemetery itself though, does remind me of Pere Lachaise in many ways.

Love this place. after walking round you can’t help but say «I wanna be buried here «.
Its actually a lovely walk, with beautiful kept grounds.
When you first come in through the gothic gates keep to the right and you will come an asian pool with koi carp. Around here you will see Asian people burning money for the dead in the fire pits.
Keep going and you will come to a chapel that you can have a rest, say a prayer or use the loo .
Check out the little lake with turtle sun bathing and see off you can find Jean-​Michel Basquiat grave.
Seriously this is Brooklyn gem of a place.

Be respectful. That was our number one rule as we walked around Green-​Wood as if it were a park. Green-​Wood is, in fact, a cemetery.
Green-​Wood is my Pere Lachaise of the US. It’s filled with famous people, historical figures, and beautiful tombstones. Even if you don’t know someone buried there, there are reasons to visit. It’s a tourist attraction (bus tours!) and large enough where if you are on foot you may be caught out of breath. BYOC (bring your own car) recommended.
I do happen to sort of know two people buried here. I visited the mausoleum and it is well maintained and very clean. There is plenty of room and seating to take a moment to pay respects. There is also area outside where you can burn incense or set up offerings to your ancestors. Funeral services are also kept in line with culture and religion.
Some helpful hints:
–Watch out for the flocks of birds. Carry an umbrella or take cover if you don’t want to get pooped or peed on.
–If you are into letterboxing, Green-​Wood is a great location to scavenger hunt.
–Hold on to your map if you are looking for specific graves.
–Climb the highest natural elevation point in Brooklyn: Battle Hill
–Don’t forget to dust off your shoulders when you leave if you are superstitious of ghosts following you home.