The Lost Art of Dying
Hosted by Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons and The Green-Wood Cemetery What can medieval manuscripts teach us today about living and dying well? Join Columbia Univ. physician L.S. Dugdale as she explores these texts and speaks from her new book The Lost Art of Dying. For more than 500 years, the 'ars ... Read more
On African American Death Practices Part II
Death is the great equalizer, right? Why then have funerary and burial practices been racially segregated in the United States for centuries? Why does death care continue to be one of the most segregated sectors of the American economy? This discussion uses these questions as a starting point to trace the evolution of African American ... Read more
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 many birds that call Green-Wood home.
History Happy Hour: Happily Never After—Part Two
Love and death have inspired artists, writers, and philosophers for millennia. But where do they perfectly intertwine? At a cemetery! This time around, you’ll hear more tales of the lovesick and heartbroken, including tawdry details of dramatic–and doomed–affairs. Learn all about the tortured marriage of William and Regina Steinway, the murder of Harvey Burdell, Augustus ... Read more
Pages from the Past: NYC’s Greatest Diarist Dishes
Everyone loves a little gossip, right? And no one could dish it like George Templeton Strong. Once a well-connected lawyer and a trustee of both Trinity Church and Columbia College (but also a man who reflected the racial, ethnic, and religious prejudices of his time), he is now perhaps best known for the extensive private ... Read more
(Postponed) Death Cafe: Hot Pot Edition
This event has been postponed. There are plans to reschedule it at a later date. Join our email list for the latest event and other news from Green-Wood. This special edition of the popular Death Cafe is inspired by artist Heidi Lau. She will begin the evening discussing her art practice and the importance of ... Read more
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 many birds that call Green-Wood home.
Traces of Tiffany: Gravestones Designed by Tiffany Studios
Louis Comfort Tiffany was one of the most prolific and talented designers of the Gilded Age. You’ve probably heard his name associated with Tiffany lamps or Tiffany stained glass, but few people know that this remarkable and multi-talented artist was also in the gravestone business. In fact, his studio designed hundreds of cemetery monuments—sixty of ... Read more
Death Café
Green-Wood Cemetery 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United StatesThe Death Café is inspired by the centuries-old European salon (or café), an informal gathering to discuss philosophical, political or scientific ideas. In 2011, British entrepreneur Jon Underwood brought this concept to discussions of the most universal topic of all: death. Underwood’s intention was to provide an opportunity to “increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their lives.” Today, there are over 4,400 Death Cafes in 26 countries around the world.
Amusing the Masses on Coney Island and Beyond: The Story of William F. Mangels
In its heyday, Coney Island’s amusement parks drew massive crowds excited to take a spin on flashy modern rides. This is due in no small part to the genius of William F. Mangels, whose business designed and manufactured some of the most iconic rides of the era, including “The Whip,” carousels with galloping horses, and ... Read more
A Disposition to be Rich: Ferdinand Ward, the Greatest Swindler of the Gilded Age
Ferdinand Ward was the greatest swindler of the Gilded Age, whose villainy bankrupted Ulysses S. Grant and stunned the world of finance. His fascinating story has been extensively researched by his great-grandson, award-winning historian Geoffrey C. Ward, author of A Disposition to be Rich. Drawing upon thousands of never before seen family documents, Geoffrey traces ... Read more
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.
