Green-Wood

Birding in Peace
2021-03-07 07:15 - 08:45, 2021-03-14 07:15 - 08:45, 2021-03-21 06:45 - 08:15, 2021-04-04 06:30 - 08:00, 2021-04-11 06:30 - 08:00 (America/New_York)
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.

Just because it’s winter, doesn’t mean that there aren’t interesting birds to discover in Green-Wood. For some bird species that migrate south after the breeding season, Brooklyn is their Miami during the cold months. Spend the early morning exploring the cemetery, looking for overwintering waterfowl, nuthatches, woodpeckers, sparrows, finches and any half-hardy birds that decided to stick around. By February we’ll see some of the early north-bound birds beginning to trickle back into the area.

All walks are at a slow pace on easy to moderate terrain, but proper, close toed footwear is suggested. Green-Wood’s official birding checklist is available to pick up from the security guard at the Main Entrance on 25th Street or as a printable PDF here.

Tickets are $20/$15 for members. There are no paper or e-tickets. Attendees will be checked in by name.

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Courtesy of Jennifer Kepler.

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Don’t know your Member ID number? Not sure which ticket or membership type to order? Call 718-210-3080 or email contactus@green-wood.com with any questions.

Mandatory Safety Protocols

– Attendees must wear a face covering at all times and maintain at least a 6-foot distance from those not in their group.

– Follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

– Travel Safely: Green-Wood recommends following all safety precautions while traveling to and from the Cemetery, whether by foot, mass transit, or driving. If taking mass transit, please check the MTA’s guidelines.

– Feeling Sick? Stay home if you are feeling sick or running a temperature. Please use good judgement if you have recently been exposed to someone with COVID-19. For more information about COVID-19, please check the CDC website.

– Green-Wood reserves the right to deny entry to any visitor who refuses to comply with the safety guidelines.

If you observe a situation or behavior that does not reflect these protocols, please advise an ambassador or other staff member immediately. With everyone’s cooperation this will be a memorable and safe unique experience.

Winter Wanders
2021-03-07 13:00 - 14:30, 2021-03-13 13:00 - 14:30, 2021-03-14 13:00 - 14:30
It may be cold outside, but don’t let that stop you from discovering Green-Wood!

On this leisurely ninety-minute walking tour you’ll take in spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline from Battle Hill; visit Fannie the dog, the beloved companion of Elias Howe’s family; and hear the tragic tale of Victorian debutante Charlotte Canda. Along the way you’ll explore Green-Wood’s historic landscape and learn about the seemingly cryptic iconography found throughout the Cemetery.

Meet at the Main Entrance Gate by Fifth Avenue and 25th Street.

$25 / $20 for members. There are no paper or e-tickets. Attendees will be checked in by name.

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Please note: All walking tours traverse hilly and at times uneven terrain. Comfortable footwear is suggested. Click here for our inclement weather policy.

Not a Member?

Click here for all of our membership levels and information.

Already a Member?

Click the gray tickets button to activate the Eventbrite pop-up, then click Enter promo code. Type in your ID number and apply your discount.

Questions?

Don’t know your Member ID number? Not sure which ticket or membership type to order? Call 718-210-3080 or email contactus@green-wood.com with any questions.

Mandatory Safety Protocols

– Attendees must wear a face covering at all times and maintain at least a 6-foot distance from those not in their group.

– The tour guide will be using a voice amplifier to ensure all social distancing protocols are adhered to.

– Follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

– Travel Safely: Green-Wood recommends following all safety precautions while traveling to and from the Cemetery, whether by foot, mass transit, or driving. If taking mass transit, please check the MTA’s guidelines.

– Feeling Sick? Stay home if you are feeling sick or running a temperature. Please use good judgement if you have recently been exposed to someone with COVID-19. For more information about COVID-19, please check the CDC website.

Green-Wood reserves the right to deny entry to any visitor who refuses to comply with the safety guidelines.

Restoration in Action: Recent Projects at Green-Wood
2021-03-10 18:00 - 19:00
Keeping 478 acres of mausoleums and monuments upright and in tip-top shape is no small task, but since arriving at Green-Wood in 2016, Neela Wickremesinghe, the Robert A. and Elizabeth Rohn Jeffe Director of Restoration and Preservation at Green-Wood, has risen to the challenge. Along with her two-person team, they have rolled up their sleeves day in and day out to ensure that the Cemetery’s greatest treasures are preserved for generations to come. Join Neela and Green-Wood Historian Jeff Richman, for a behind-the-scenes look at her team’s most recent—and ground-breaking—restoration projects. You’ll learn about the head-to-toe restoration of the mausoleum known as “The Prisoner’s Vault,” how the team responds to fallen stones in the wake of storms, and smaller repairs completed in their workshop.

This conversation is part of our series of virtual programs about the history of Green-Wood and its permanent residents, Zooming in on History.

$9 / $4 for members. A Zoom link will be in your confirmation email upon registration.

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Not a Member?

Click here for all of our membership levels and information.

Already a Member?

Click the gray tickets button to activate the Eventbrite pop-up, then click Enter promo code. Type in your ID number and apply your discount.

Questions?

Don’t know your Member ID number? Not sure which ticket or membership type to order? Call 718-210-3080 or email contactus@green-wood.com with any questions.

Cremation: History and Modern Process
2021-03-11 18:00 - 19:00
What is cremation? How long have people been doing it, and how does it work? Amy Cunningham, funeral director and death educator, leads this presentation on the history of cremation and its impact on present-day and future funerals. This engaging and sometimes even light-hearted exploration will also touch on how to choose an end-of-life mode of disposition that expresses your own beliefs and values.

Free. A Zoom link will be in your confirmation email upon registration.

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Napoleon Sarony: Photographer to the Stars
2021-03-17 18:00 - 19:00
Before Annie Leibovitz and Richard Avedon, there was another photographer who the rich and famous turned to take their portrait: Napoleon Sarony (1821-1896). Over the course of three decades, working from several locations around Union Square in New York City, he artfully captured images of presidents, actors, theatrical productions, and international superstars including Oscar Wilde, Sarah Bernhardt, Lillie Langtry, and Mark Twain, to name just a few. Join Green-Wood Historian Jeff Richman as he shares stories of Sarony, who is now a permanent resident of Green-Wood, and the world-class collection of his photographs that are now part of The Green-Wood Historic Fund Collections.

This conversation is part of our series of virtual programs about the history of Green-Wood and its permanent residents, Zooming in on History.

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$9 / $4 for members. A Zoom link will be in your confirmation email upon registration.

Not a Member?

Click here for all of our membership levels and information.

Already a Member?

Click the gray tickets button to activate the Eventbrite pop-up, then click Enter promo code. Type in your ID number and apply your discount.

Questions?

Don’t know your Member ID number? Not sure which ticket or membership type to order? Call 718-210-3080 or email contactus@green-wood.com with any questions.

Death Café
2021-03-17 18:30 - 20:00 | Green-Wood Cemetery, 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11232, United States
The 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.
Green-Wood is proud to host monthly gatherings of the Death Café here in our beautiful, modern chapel. Amy Cunningham, death educator and creator of the Brooklyn-based blog TheInspiredFuneral.com, invites participants to share their thoughts and feelings on death. It’s an opportunity for safe and open exchanges, without an agenda. Tea and light snacks are provided.
“A place for people to discuss our inevitable fate.” – Gothamist
“It’s a reversal for American culture, which for a long time has shied away from these conversations.” – Village Voice
“[E]ncouraging people to talk about death more freely and naturally.” – Haaretz
Free to attend, RSVP recommended. Please register using the Eventbrite box below.
This program takes place in our Modern Chapel just to the right after passing through the Gothic Arches at the main entrance. All events will take place rain or shine. Click here for our inclement weather policy.

Mobile users: Please tap here for free registration.

The Thousand Year Wood: Humans and Trees Growing Together
2021-03-18 18:00 - 19:00
For millennia, people around the globe did not simply live beside or under trees—they lived with them. It was a symbiotic relationship, not an exploitative one. Proper human care for the woodlands increased their diversity and promoted the number and variety of insects, birds, and other creatures who lived in the forests. The trees themselves lived longer. In return, they gave us firewood, fodder, medicines, foods, and more, as well as beauty, fresh air, and cooling shade. This talk evokes that ancient world, not as an idyll of the past, but as a model for a future, active relationship with trees. It also suggests ways in which we can start this living relationship anew, replacing extraction with grateful exchange, and moving these ancient ways into urban use.

This program will be presented by arborist William Bryant Logan, whose latest book, Sprout Lands: Tending the Everlasting Gifts of Trees, was published by WW Norton in March 2019. He is also the author of three other books: Dirt, Oak, and Air. He is the founder and president of Urban Arborists, a leading New York City tree care firm, and is on the faculty of the New York Botanical Garden.

$5/Free for members, RSVP required. A Zoom link will be in your confirmation email upon registration.

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This conversation is part of our new series of virtual programs about the horticulture and wildlife of Green-Wood, Zooming in on Nature.

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Click the gray tickets button to activate the Eventbrite pop-up, then click Enter promo code. Type in your ID number and apply your discount.

Questions?

Don’t know your Member ID number? Not sure which ticket or membership type to order? Call 718-210-3080 or email contactus@green-wood.com with any questions.

Green-Wood’s Greatest Hits
2021-03-20 13:00 - 14:30, 2021-03-21 13:00 - 14:30, 2021-03-27 13:00 - 14:30, 2021-03-28 13:00 - 14:30, 2021-04-03 13:00 - 14:30, 2021-04-04 13:00 - 14:30, 2021-04-10 13:00 - 14:30, 2021-04-11 13:00 - 14:30
Credit: Amy Nieporent

Join our expert tour guides to explore Green-Wood’s historic landscape and most fascinating permanent residents. If you have never been to the Cemetery, this is your opportunity to discover the highlights of some of its 478 acres of art, history, and nature!

On this walking tour, you will tread where George Washington and his troops fought in the Battle of Brooklyn; learn the tragedy that struck the Brooklyn Theatre; pay your respects to the maestro, Leonard Bernstein; and discover much more.

$25 / $20 for members.

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There are no paper or e-tickets. Attendees will be checked in by name. The walk is over hilly and uneven terrain, comfortable footwear is encouraged. Click here for our inclement weather policy.

Location: Check-in takes place in the meadow at the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street. Look for signage.

Not a Member?

Click here for all of our membership levels and information.

Already a Member?

Click the gray tickets button to activate the Eventbrite pop-up, then click Enter promo code. Type in your ID number and apply your discount.

Questions?

Don’t know your Member ID number? Not sure which ticket or membership type to order? Call 718-210-3080 or email contactus@green-wood.com with any questions.

Mandatory Safety Protocols

– Attendees are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering at all times and maintain at least a 6-foot distance from those not in their group.

– The walk is over hilly and uneven terrain, comfortable footwear is encouraged.

– Follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

– Travel Safely: Green-Wood recommends following all safety precautions while traveling to and from the Cemetery, whether by foot, mass transit, or driving. If taking mass transit, please check the MTA’s guidelines.

– Feeling Sick? Stay home if you are feeling sick or running a temperature. Please use good judgement if you have recently been exposed to someone with COVID-19. For more information about COVID-19, please check the CDC website.

– Green-Wood reserves the right to deny entry to any visitor who refuses to comply with the safety guidelines.

If you observe a situation or behavior that does not reflect these protocols, please advise an ambassador or other staff member immediately. With everyone’s cooperation this will be a memorable and safe unique experience.

History Happy Hour: The Cemetery Language of Flowers
2021-03-23 18:00 - 19:00
In the Victorian era, floriography—or the language of flowers—was a sensation, with bouquets and arrangements often carrying cryptic meanings. You would need a flora dictionary (no joke!) to decipher them.

This interest in the symbolism of flowers made its way into fashion, art, and even cemeteries, where roses, poppies, daisies, and lilies all held specific meanings. This program will examine floral symbolism both at Green-Wood and beyond. So when you’re walking a local cemetery this spring, you’ll be able to appreciate the significance of the blossoms around you—whether both carved in stone or sprouting from the ground!

While we can’t actually bring the bar or the drinks to you, we can offer some history on tap! Bring your own beverage–why not try our recommended cocktail of the evening–and raise a glass to the past as we stay connected through our latest series, History Happy Hour.

$9 / $4 for members. A Zoom link and recipe will be in your confirmation email upon registration.

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Not a Member?

Click here for all of our membership levels and information.

Already a Member?

Click the gray tickets button to activate the Eventbrite pop-up, then click Enter promo code. Type in your ID number and apply your discount.

Questions?

Don’t know your Member ID number? Not sure which ticket or membership type to order? Call 718-210-3080 or email contactus@green-wood.com with any questions.

Mausoleums of the Rich and Famous: A Virtual Tour of Woodlawn
2021-03-24 18:00 - 19:00
They say money can’t buy you everything, but that’s only mostly true. For this evening’s virtual exploration, Green-Wood’s historian Jeff Richman and The Woodlawn Cemetery’s Director of Historical Services Susan Olsen, take you behind closed doors to discover some of the most opulent and elaborate mausoleums at their cemeteries. Commissioned by the crème de la crème of New York City and designed by America’s greatest artists and architects, you won’t want to miss discovering Woodlawn’s exquisite collection, including the Egyptian Revival Woolworth mausoleum and the spectacular Belmont tomb.

This conversation is part of our series of virtual programs about the history of Green-Wood and its permanent residents, Zooming in on History.

$9 / $4 for members. A Zoom link will be in your confirmation email upon registration.

Buy Tickets
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Not a Member?

Click here for all of our membership levels and information.

Already a Member?

Click the gray tickets button to activate the Eventbrite pop-up, then click Enter promo code. Type in your ID number and apply your discount.

Questions?

Don’t know your Member ID number? Not sure which ticket or membership type to order? Call 718-210-3080 or email contactus@green-wood.com with any questions.

‘Ghost Tike’ A Collective Memorial: A Creative Approach to Grief
2021-03-25 18:00 - 19:15
Image courtesy of Caito Stewart

COVID has made it difficult to gather together to remember lost loved ones, limiting the connections we can forge with others through collective grief. Artist Caito Stewart, however, presents another approach, one that can be taken from a distance, in this engaging virtual workshop.

The evening begins with Caito discussing her creation of Ghost Tike, a collective memorial project inspired by the passing of her brother. Composed of thousands of hand cut leaves, each time the work is exhibited, more and more leaves are added. You are able to contribute in this way if you wish as well. The ever-changing nature of the piece is a homage to the persistence and magnitude of grief over time. Caito’s work presents the possibility for alternative and ongoing memorials to departed loved ones. Grief is not static, and memorialization can be a meditative, healing journey. After getting a glimpse of her process, attendees are invited to join in the process and craft their own leaves to honor those we have lost.

Not artistically inclined or you just don’t consider yourself creative? Don’t worry! This workshop is about the process, not the final product. You can use simple supplies found around your house. Instructions and suggestions for the craft will be emailed to you.

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Caito Stewart is a visual artist based in the NYC area. She draws on her personal experience and research to create mixed media sculptures, installations, and other opportunities which facilitate collaboration, connection, and dialogue around grief and loss. You can learn more about her work and process on her website.

Please consider a donation to Green-Wood. When reserving your ticket, we hope you will make a donation so that we can continue to provide free and low-cost programs that present engaging and thought provoking programs in death education. A Zoom link will be in your confirmation email upon registration.

Women Who Walked Ahead
2021-03-27 11:00 - 12:30, 2021-03-28 11:00 - 12:30
In honor of Women’s History Month, Green-Wood presents this special ninety-minute walking tour in celebration and recognition of the women who challenged the social, cultural, and political order of the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Through this eye-opening exploration that highlights the bravery of some of the Cemetery’s most notable women, you’ll discover Isabella Goodwin, the first woman detective in New York City; socialite and philanthropist Louisine Havemeyer, who was arrested for attempting to burn an effigy of Woodrow Wilson; and entrepreneur Elizabeth Gloucester, whose fortune helped fund John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry.

Tickets are pay-as-you-wish, though we recommend $10-$15 per person. With your support, Green-Wood is able to offer free and low-cost programs throughout the year.

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Please note that tickets are limited to one per transaction due to capacity. They must be reserved in advance and cannot be rescheduled. Click here for our inclement weather policy. Donations are non-refundable.

MANDATORY SAFETY PROTOCOLS

– Attendees must wear a face covering at all times and maintain at least a 6-foot distance from those not in their group.

– The walk is over hilly and uneven terrain, comfortable footwear is encouraged.

– Follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

– Travel Safely: Green-Wood recommends following all safety precautions while traveling to and from the Cemetery, whether by foot, mass transit, or driving. If taking mass transit, please check the MTA’s guidelines.

– Feeling Sick? Stay home if you are feeling sick or running a temperature. Please use good judgement if you have recently been exposed to someone with COVID-19. For more information about COVID-19, please check the CDC website.

Green-Wood reserves the right to deny entry to any visitor who refuses to comply with the safety guidelines.

If you observe a situation or behavior that does not reflect these protocols, please advise an ambassador or other staff member immediately. With everyone’s cooperation this will be a memorable and safe unique experience.

Play Ball! Green-Wood’s Baseball Legends
2021-03-31 18:00 - 19:00
It’s time, once again, for one of the greatest rites of spring: baseball’s opening day! Join baseball historian Tom Gilbert, in conversation with Green-Wood Historian Jeff Richman, for this virtual tour of the many men interred at the Cemetery who pioneered the National Pastime—including Henry Chadwick, dubbed the “Father of Baseball” by President Theodore Roosevelt; Charles Ebbets, who owned the Brooklyn Dodgers and built the legendary Ebbets Field; and James Creighton, baseball’s first national superstar; among others. Get ready to play ball!

This conversation is part of our series of virtual programs about the history of Green-Wood and its permanent residents, Zooming in on History.

$9 / $4 for members. A Zoom link will be in your confirmation email upon registration.

Buy Tickets
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Not a Member?

Click here for all of our membership levels and information.

Already a Member?

Click the gray tickets button to activate the Eventbrite pop-up, then click Enter promo code. Type in your ID number and apply your discount.

Questions?

Don’t know your Member ID number? Not sure which ticket or membership type to order? Call 718-210-3080 or email contactus@green-wood.com with any questions.

Qingming: Remembering our Ancestors
2021-04-01 18:00 - 19:00
Presented in Partnership with MOCA

Death is always a timely topic, and will especially be so on April 4th. It is a day when two death-reflective holidays coincide: Qingming (“ching-ming”), a Chinese holiday honoring one’s ancestors (also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day), overlaps with Easter, a significant death-related commemoration of the Western world. Whether you take part in the former, or celebrate the latter, the process of venerating the past points us to the future.

To mark Qingming and Easter both falling on the same day, Joanna C. Lee and Ken Smith (translators and annotators of the Pocket Chinese Almanac) touch on differences and similarities of the two holidays while examining funeral traditions in China and the Chinese diaspora. From wearing mourning clothes to burning paper tributes (including money, paper cell phones, and even sportscars) for the deceased to use in the afterlife, this presentation traces Chinese funeral customs from their ancient agrarian roots to modern urban practice today.

And the Chinese almanac says April 1st is a good day for meeting friends!

Register for the webinar here.

This program is presented in partnership with The Green-Wood Cemetery and MOCA.

This program is presented as part of a new Death Education series at Green-Wood, Death & Us. Death is the great universal, but the ways in which the dead are grieved and memorialized vary across racial, cultural, and economic divides in the United States. This series brings together a myriad of voices—from historians and preservationists to activists and funeral practitioners—to explore how diverse communities mourn and commemorate the departed from our nation’s founding to today.

Free, suggested donation $10. Please consider a donation to Green-Wood. Your donation will help ensure that we can continue to provide engaging and thought provoking programs in death education at little or no cost to you. A Zoom link will be in your confirmation email upon registration.

The Devil’s Own Work: The New York City Draft Riots
2021-04-07 18:00 - 19:00
In the midst of the Civil War, as thousands of soldiers died, the United States enacted a draft to solve the shortage of manpower on the battlefields. In reaction, mobs took to the streets of New York City in July 1863. Mayhem, and a race riot, ensued. For four long days, the insurrectionists held control over parts of New York City, the largest such act in American history. Join Barnet Schecter, author of The Devil’s Own Work: The Civil War Draft Riots and the Fight to Reconstruct America, for a conversation with Green-Wood Historian Jeff Richman about this little-known, but tremendously important and impactful uprising, featuring some of the key participants who are interred at the Cemetery.

This conversation is part of our series of virtual programs about the history of Green-Wood and its permanent residents, Zooming in on History.

$9 / $4 for members. A Zoom link will be in your confirmation email upon registration.

Get Tickets
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Not a Member?

Click here for all of our membership levels and information.

Already a Member?

Click the gray tickets button to activate the Eventbrite pop-up, then click Enter promo code. Type in your ID number to access your discounted and/or free tickets.

Questions?

Don’t know your Member ID number? Not sure which ticket or membership type to order? Call 718-210-3080 or email contactus@green-wood.com with any questions.

Great Trees of Green-Wood
2021-04-11 14:00 - 15:30
Credit: Amy Nieporent

It happens every spring! The flowering trees of Green-Wood explode with color, and it is a visual extravaganza! Lace up your walking shoes and get ready to start Instagram posting like crazy as you discover these blossoms in all their glory! Along the way you’ll encounter some of the over 7,000 trees in the Cemetery that represent nearly 700 species and cultivars. In fact, Green-Wood is an accredited Level III Arboretum—one of only 27 in the world.

Location: Check-in takes place in the meadow at the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street. Look for signage.

$25 / $20 for members. There are no paper or e-tickets. Attendees will be checked in by name.

Get Tickets
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Please note: All walking tours traverse hilly and at times uneven terrain. Comfortable footwear is suggested. Click here for our inclement weather policy.

Not a Member?

Click here for all of our membership levels and information.

Already a Member?

Click the gray tickets button to activate the Eventbrite pop-up, then click Enter promo code. Type in your ID number and apply your discount.

Questions?

Don’t know your Member ID number? Not sure which ticket or membership type to order? Call 718-210-3080 or email contactus@green-wood.com with any questions.

Mandatory Safety Protocols

– Attendees must wear a face covering at all times and maintain at least a 6-foot distance from those not in their group.

– The tour guide will be using a voice amplifier to ensure all social-distancing protocols are adhered to.

– Follow ALL instructions and guidance from Cemetery staff and ambassadors.

– Travel Safely: Green-Wood recommends following all safety precautions while traveling to and from the Cemetery, whether by foot, mass transit, or driving. If taking mass transit, please check the MTA’s guidelines.

– Feeling Sick? Stay home if you are feeling sick or running a temperature. Please use good judgement if you have recently been exposed to someone with COVID-19. For more information about COVID-19, please check the CDC website.

– Green-Wood reserves the right to deny entry to any visitor who refuses to comply with the safety guidelines.

If you observe a situation or behavior that does not reflect these protocols, please advise an ambassador or other staff member immediately. With everyone’s cooperation this will be a memorable and safe unique experience.
