Special Event
-
Me and My Sparrows
It’s a little known fact that the common house sparrow was introduced to North America right here at Green-Wood. In 1854, about 100 were brought from England and released in the Cemetery (as well as along the Narrows) as natural predators of the inchworms that were destroying trees throughout the city. Today there are approximately seventy-four million sparrows in the United States, and even veteran birders say they are among the most difficult to distinguish. Are you ready to take the sparrow challenge? From the American Tree Sparrow to the White-crowned Sparrow, this course will focus on the seventeen regularly-occurring New World sparrow species around the Big Apple, breaking down the basics of size, shape, and behavior.
-
Tree Stewardship
Learn how you can play an active role in supporting the health of our urban forest, including the basics of watering, tree bed gardening, and soil cultivation.
-
Spirited Stroll (Sold Out)
A perennial favorite! Get into the autumnal mood and enjoy a cool, crisp day exploring Green-Wood’s beautiful fall foliage. Historian Jeff Richman will lead this popular tour filled with tales of murder, mayhem, spirits, and the utterly bizarre. Visit the graves of The Wizard of Oz (actor, Frank Morgan), George Washington’s favorite dentist, the somewhat shady originator of Spiritualism, and many more. You’ll even get to tour Green-Wood’s Catacombs, which are usually closed to the public.
-
Spirited Stroll
A perennial favorite! Get into the autumnal mood and enjoy a cool, crisp day exploring Green-Wood’s beautiful fall foliage. Historian Jeff Richman will lead this popular tour filled with tales of murder, mayhem, spirits, and the utterly bizarre. Visit the graves of The Wizard of Oz (actor, Frank Morgan), George Washington’s favorite dentist, the somewhat shady originator of Spiritualism, and many more. You’ll even get to tour Green-Wood’s Catacombs, which are usually closed to the public.
-
Day of the Dead Family Program
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesDiscover the rich history and traditions associated with the Mexican holiday Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) through crafts and storytelling for families with kids of all ages. Celebrated throughout Mexico from October 31 to November 2, this holiday is time for family and friends to commemorate departed loved ones through prayer, altars, music, dance, and food.
-
Making an Exit: From the Magnificent to the Macabre
Author and journalist Sarah Murray never gave much thought to what might happen to her remains – until her father died. While he’d always insisted his “organic matter” would have no significance, he surprised the family by leaving detailed arrangements for the disposal of his ashes. His last request prompted Sarah to explore how – across centuries and cultures – humans have built memorials to their lives. Sarah will share stories, photos, and insights from her book Making an Exit: From the Magnificent to the Macabre – How We Dignify the Dead, which documents her journeys across the world on a very personal quest: seeking inspiration for her own eventual send-off.
-
Birding in Peace
Before our gates open to the general public, birding expert Rob Jett leads these peaceful Sunday morning walking tours to discover the birds that make Green-Wood their home – at least temporarily. By September, offspring of these nesting birds will be on their own. Returning warblers will be in their less flamboyant fall plumage. Large numbers of blackbirds, flycatchers, sparrows, vireos, and swallows will also be passing through. By October, waterfowl are returning, and we’ll look for raptors heading south. November will bring back our overwintering feathered denizens from the north.
-
Preserving Brooklyn
Some of the very best work in historic preservation – the restoration of old structures and monuments that give a city its character and history – is being done right here in Brooklyn. Whether at Green-Wood, with its tens of thousands of gravestones, mausoleums, stained glass windows, and landmarked structures, or across the borough, these important projects are keeping Brooklyn in the forefront of the field. Come hear about best practices that ensure that our most beautiful structures do not vanish from the borough’s ever-changing landscape.
-
Altered States: Mediums, Mambos, and Michael Jackson
In this illustrated presentation, award-winning photographer and author Shannon Taggart will share original photographs from her 17 year-long exploration of séances and the endeavor to blur the lines between life and death. She will discuss the curious ways that Spiritualist mediums, Vodou practitioners, and also the “King of Pop” Michael Jackson have used altered states of consciousness in their quests to access invisible realms. Her photographs have been exhibited and featured internationally in TIME, New York Times Magazine, Discover, and Newsweek. Taggart’s book, SÉANCE: Spiritualist Ritual and the Search for Ectoplasm, will be released in 2019.
-
(Sold Out) Mushrooming 101
While the colorful trees and migrating birds of Green-Wood get lots of buzz (and Instagram posts), visitors might not know about the bounty of mushrooms sprouting throughout the cemetery’s 478 verdant acres. Ethan Crenson, a longtime member of the New York Mycological Society leads an exploration of Green-Wood’s fungi. Learn the basics of identifying mushroom species and the crucial differences between edible and poisonous varieties. This tour is a great opportunity for novice and expert mycologists alike to gain important insights for the next hike in the woods or trip to the farmers market.
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.