Monday, September 3, 2012

Green-Wood Cemetery

 Green-Wood Cemetery founded in 1838 at the southern end of Park Slope in Brooklyn.  The main entrance gates were designed by Richard Upjohn c. 1861.  Click HERE for more on Green-Wood Cemetery.  Click HERE to see the cemetery on google earth and HERE on bing.

Sylvan Water.




Most of New York City's Egyptian Revival architecture from the mid-19th century has long since been demolished but there is plenty to be found in Green-Wood.  The above mausoleum could use some TLC.



If you look closely you will find a Red-Tailed Hawk sitting atop the obelisk on the right.

9 comments:

The Down East Dilettante said...

Astonishing.

Parnassus said...

Thank you for giving us this post showing what the general atmosphere and what is still attractive in Greenwood Cemetery, and I love seeing it in color! Your recent article on the vandalism there might give the impression that not much is left, but that is obviously not the case.

The cemetery really looks much the same as in its 19th century photos, although the patina of time has made the place even more atmospheric and conducive to thought.

Zach L. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
archibuff said...

Monumentally beautiful. From the wide variety of mausoleums and tombs, providing a who's who of New York history through the centuries to the magnificent landscaped setting. One should not miss taking a guided tour or just driving in and exploring. Some great photos highlighting the rolling hills and bucolic setting.

Zach L. said...

Green-Wood is endless...a good kind of endless. It never gets boring because there's always something undiscovered just on the other side of the hill or around the pathway. The variety of architectural styles is enormous, spanning centuries and the grounds are just as appealing as Planting Fields or any arboretum you can think of. There are a ridiculous number of extremely large American and European Beech trees all over the grounds as well.

450 acres, 450,000 internments and very few people walking around (at least among the living). A very special place in Brooklyn for sure.

The Ancient said...

As best I can recall, the last family member to be buried there died shortly before WW2. She was the end of a line of perhaps two hundred, starting at the beginning -- or before that, as some remains were moved from Manhattan graveyards.

(Edith Wharton never wrote about the elaborate protocols that governed who could get into the family mausoleums of Old New York. But they were elaborate, and depended on a certain amount of what used to be known as Christian charity.)

Patricia said...

You can see the incredible range of people buried at Green-Wood at findagrave.com or try this link from my search:

http://www.findagrave.com/php/famous.php?page=cem&FScemeteryid=64718

Can't get more diverse than this: Henry Ward Beecher, Albert Anastasia, Leonard Bernstein and Laura Keene (the actress on stage during Lincoln assasination.

Laura from RI said...

Woodlawn Cemetery is just as serene as Greenwood too. Woolworth, Hutton, Woodwards amongst others hmmm...

Lidian said...

I've only been to Greenwood once (since I no longer live in NYC) but I look forward to a time when I can visit at length - and find all the ancestors I have there. Your photographs are absolutely wonderful, BTW.