Self-Guided Walking Tours

"On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we would like to welcome you to The Green-Wood Cemetery. Founded in 1838 as the third rural cemetery in America, Green-Wood has become one of the great cemeteries of the world. We are proud to share this historic place with you.

A century and a half ago, Green-Wood Cemetery was one of 19th century America's leading tourist attractions. By the 1850's, 500,000 people were passing through our gates every year, walking its paths and riding through it on carriage tours. We would like to renew the tradition of public access and enjoyment.

Green-Wood Cemetery has a great deal to offer. It is a remarkable arboretum, wildlife sanctuary, sculpture garden, a place of architecture, landscape design, and history. These tours will give you a chance to enjoy all of these aspects of the cemetery.

These are the first and second in our planned series of walking guides. They will get you into the cemetery, allow you to take in parts of its unique grounds, learn about it and its permanent residents, and lead you back out. Please enjoy yourself while you are visiting as our guest. Also, please keep in mind that this is an active cemetery, with an average of five funerals per day and a steady stream of families visiting their loved ones. We ask you to respect them at all times.

The cemetery is open to visitors everyday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., weather permitting. Enjoy the cemetery and stop by our offices if you have any questions or comments."

Richard J. Moylan
President
The Green-Wood Cemetery

Walk #1: Battle Hill and Back
A Self-Guided Walk Through Green-Wood Cemetery
By: Jeffrey I. Richman

A stroll up to the highest point in Brooklyn and spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline and New York harbor, this tour includes visits to the Brooklyn Theatre Monument, toy-seller F.A.O. Schwarz, the Soldiers' Monument, musical great Leonard Bernstein, Brooklyn Dodgers' Charles Ebbetts, sewing machine inventor Elias Howe and his dog, Fannie, mobster Johnny Torrio, "Father of Baseball" Henry Chadwick, the elaborate marble carvings memorializing the tragedy of the French Lady (Charlotte Canda), the spectacular marble memorial to Jane Griffith, the heroic bronze of De Witt Clinton, and much more.

Music great Leonard Bernstein
is one of the many fascinating
individuals along tour #1.

 

Please click here to order Walk #1 on line.

 

Walk #2: Valley and Sylvan Waters
A Self-Guided Walk Through Green-Wood Cemetery
By: Jeffrey I. Richman

Wander past two of our glacial ponds, where cormorants and egrets may be resting, into the newly-restored Historic Chapel, to the graves of artist Louis Comfort Tiffany, store owner Charles Tiffany, newspaperman Horace Greeley, the Mad Poet, the Indian Princess, the Soda Fountain King, mobster Albert Anastasia, Coney Island showman George Tilyou, a Titanic victim, and many more.

Green-wood Cemetery's
Historic Chapel
shown in a post card circa 1915.

 

 

Please click here to order Walk #2 on line.

Each of these self-guided walking tours can be purchased for $7.00 + $1.50 shipping & handling charges; if you would like to purchase both, the discounted total cost (including shipping & handling) is $14.00.

Please click here to order both Walk #1 and Walk #2 books online.

If you prefer, you can order by mail; send your check to The Green-Wood Cemetery, 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11232-1755.