Special Event
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(Sold Out) 1 p.m. Black History at Green-Wood
In honor of Black History Month, Green-Wood presents a special trolley tour with Historian Jeff Richman.
Though segregation has certainly been an issue in the city, Brooklyn and New York City also have long histories of diversity and civil rights activism. This trolley tour will examine the life and accomplishments of many prominent black New Yorkers, as well as several abolitionists also working for freedom in America.
Stops will include Susan Smith McKinney Stewart, the first black female doctor in the state; Jean-Michel Basquiat, innovative artist of the 1970s and '80s; Jeremiah Hamilton, New York's first black millionaire; civil war heroes and survivors; and more. Their stories illustrate the long struggle towards equality and the deep impact black New Yorkers have been making on New York City culture since its inception.
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2 p.m. Tu-mulchuous and Tree-mendous Event
Free mulch! Free tree! You bring us a bag, we’ll give you the mulch.
Come to Green-Wood to pick up free mulch for your garden (and ours is top-grade!), free advice from our horticulture experts, and even bring home a free tree in collaboration with the New York Restoration Project and MillionTreesNYC. Whether you garden in your backyard or in a community garden, come to Green-Wood for this great afternoon and help us make New York an even greener city.
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1 p.m. Bannerman Castle: The Medieval Ruins of Hudson Valley
For generations, boat and train passengers have been mystified by the sight of castle-like structures looming on an island in the Hudson River. Join Wes and Barbara Gottlock, authors of a book on the subject and tour guides of the island, as they detail the history of this remarkable site, dating back to 1900 when the land was purchased by Brooklyn resident Francis Bannerman (now buried at Green-Wood) for the storage of military goods which he sold through a world famous Civil War-era catalog. With extensive research and stunning photographs, the Gottlocks will cover the island’s rise as a glorious landmark and its eventual decline – plus the recent calls for preservation and restoration. Buy a book and have it signed, then board the Green-Wood trolley for a short tour, including a stop at the Bannerman family plot.
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1 p.m. Restoring Glory to Creighton
James Creighton was baseball’s first megastar. Revolutionizing the pitcher’s role and changing the game forever, his shocking death at the age of 21 made him baseball’s first martyr. Buried at Green-Wood in 1862, Creighton’s grave quickly took its place in the pantheon of baseball meccas – his obelisk, topped with an iconic lemon-peel baseball (in marble), became a place of pilgrimage. However, that charming marble baseball disappeared long ago. Now, thanks to the work of Green-Wood historian Jeff Richman, baseball historian Tom Gilbert and an impressive lineup of loyal baseball fans, the marble top is back. Join us on our trolley as we drive out to Jim Creighton’s final resting place--with a guided tour by Richman and Gilbert of baseball sites along the way--for a celebration of this 19th-century phenom and the rededication of his monument.
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1 p.m. Designing Green-Wood: New York’s First Rural Greenspace
Green-Wood owes much of its splendor to the genius of its original designer - landscape architect David Bates Douglass. The twists and turns of Green-Wood's 40 miles of pathways purposefully create visual surprises around each bend. In 1838, Douglass eschewed the long vistas of unobstructed open space, in favor of rolling hills and meandering, serpentine walkways.
Join Superintendent of Grounds, Art Presson, in Green-Wood's Historic Chapel for a talk on David Bates Douglass's intent and original design. Then board the trolley for a tour of what's changed, what's stayed the same, and how the Green-Wood landscape has evolved over 175 years.
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2 p.m. Honoring Fearless Flo
We celebrate the life and career of Florence LaBadie, a young silent film sensation in the early 20th-century. Appearing in over 180 films over the course of her short life, LaBadie was a stunningly beautiful actress who enjoyed tremendous fame in her day. A tragic car accident in 1928 cut her life short at the age of 28, and she was buried at Green-Wood shortly thereafter. Mysteriously, neither a gravestone nor a monument was ever placed at her burial site and her resting place has remained unmarked for nearly a century. Now, with the help of Green-Wood, Ned Thanhouser and Thanhouser Company Film Preservation, loyal LaBadie fans and film historians, “Fearless Flo” will finally receive a proper grave marker. Join us on LaBadie’s birthday for a dedication ceremony at her final resting place, featuring music and speeches. A reception will follow in Green-Wood’s Historic Chapel.
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(Sold Out) 7:30 p.m. Twilight Tour and Catacomb Cocktails
There are few places more atmospheric than a cemetery at dusk – and Green-Wood is top notch when it comes to beauty and atmosphere. So take a walk on the wild side during this special event that will lead you on a twilight tour of the expansive grounds. As the sun sets on 478 spectacular acres, you’ll stroll through stunning landscapes and visit the graves of fascinating figures in New York and American culture.
After the walking tour, enjoy drinks and light refreshments amidst the art and greenery. The catacombs will be open for the reception, so you can wander by torchlight, sip your drink, and visit the opulent indoor resting places of Green-Wood.
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2:30 p.m. Green-Wood’s Annual Memorial Day Concert
Kick off the summer with Green-Wood’s 16th annual Memorial Day concert. The concert features the ISO Symphonic Band, founded in 1995 to sponsor talented students throughout New York City and led by ISO’s inimitable founder and conductor Brian P. Worsdale. Each year we feature the works of Green-Wood’s permanent residents Fred Ebb, Louis Moreau Gottschalk, Leonard Bernstein, and many others.
Bring a blanket and enjoy this free early summer performance. Food and refreshments will be on sale all day. Directly after the concert, enjoy a special trolley tour with Green-Wood Historian Jeff Richman.
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5 p.m. A Centennial Performance of Isadora Duncan’s Grande Marche
After becoming one of the most innovative and exciting figures of 20th-century dance, Isadora Duncan endured the tragic accidental deaths of her two young children. The experience filled her subsequent choreographic works with mournful yearning, spiritual redemption and powerful images of rebirth. Now we present those dances amidst the serene landscape of Green-Wood.
Dancer and choreographer Catherine Gallant has, for over thirty years, choreographed her own dances and worked to preserve and enliven the dances of Isadora Duncan. She and her company, Catherine Gallant/DANCE, will perform Duncan’s “Grande Marche” (1914) set to the music of Schubert, plus other late-period Duncan dances born of her sorrow. The company will then turn to works of hope and rebirth, set to a Nocturne and Polonaise of Chopin, followed by Duncan’s dances of exuberance and light to celebrate the rising of the sun.
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8 a.m. Stretch in Peace: Yoga in Green-Wood
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesJoin Barrie Raffel, registered yoga teacher, for an hour of active-but-gentle outdoor yoga that integrates the serene landscape of Green-Wood in a subtle, thoughtful way. Green-Wood’s rich history and quiet, picturesque grounds allow a uniquely calming atmosphere to practice connecting our bodies to all our senses.
After the session, stay for a short walk to one of Green-Wood’s stunning views for a relaxing breakfast picnic. Tea, coffee and light breakfast snacks will be provided.
Green-Wood’s public programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, as well as the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.