Calendar of Events
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4 events,
(Sold Out) Battle of Brooklyn Trolley Tour
(Sold Out) Battle of Brooklyn Trolley Tour
Join author and historian Barnet Schecter and Green-Wood historian Jeff Richman for a tour of Green-Wood’s Revolutionary War-related sites. This is a separate, ticketed tour, not included in general registration for the Commemoration events.
Battle of Brooklyn: Commemoration
Battle of Brooklyn: Commemoration
The Battle of Brooklyn, fought in 1776 on land that is now a part of Green-Wood, was the first battle of the American Revolution to be waged after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Green-Wood hosts a day of commemoration to honor all those who served to defend the young republic. See parades, cannon fire, horses, and re-enactments. This is a great event for kids and families!
Historic Trolley Tours
Historic Trolley Tours
Experience the most magnificent and historic 478 acres in New York City. Join our expert tour guides to hear fascinating stories of Green-Wood’s permanent residents, see breathtaking views of Manhattan, tread where George Washington and his troops fought the Battle of Brooklyn, and much more.
1 event,
(Sold Out) Christina and Michelle Naughton: An American in Paris
(Sold Out) Christina and Michelle Naughton: An American in Paris
The Washington Post writes of twin sister piano duo Christina and Michelle Naughton, “They have to be heard to be believed.” And indeed, the pair performs with an almost inconceivably telepathic connection. For The Angel’s Share, the Naughtons will play a program bookended by Leonard Bernstein, in celebration of his 100th birthday year (and because his final resting place is but a stone’s throw from the Catacombs). In between, the sisters will alternate between American and French composers, including Ravel’s shimmering Ma mère l'Oye and Debussy’s En Blanc et Noir.
1 event,
Historic Trolley Tours
Historic Trolley Tours
Experience the most magnificent and historic 478 acres in New York City. Join our expert tour guides to hear fascinating stories of Green-Wood’s permanent residents, see breathtaking views of Manhattan, tread where George Washington and his troops fought the Battle of Brooklyn, and much more.
1 event,
Zen and the Art of Dying
Zen and the Art of Dying
Join Green-Wood's death educator Amy Cunningham for an enlightening discussion with acclaimed death celebrant and founder of the Natural Death Centre in Byron Bay, Australia, Zenith Virago about how family-centered memorials can be the best beginning to the grieving process. She will explore how bereavement can be influenced and assisted by meaningful rituals. Virago, an advocate and educator, has been guiding the coastal region of Byron Bay for over 25 years towards a more creative, communal, and celebratory engagement with death and dying.
1 event,
Historic Trolley Tours
Historic Trolley Tours
Experience the most magnificent and historic 478 acres in New York City. Join our expert tour guides to hear fascinating stories of Green-Wood’s permanent residents, see breathtaking views of Manhattan, tread where George Washington and his troops fought the Battle of Brooklyn, and much more.
1 event,
Historic Trolley Tours
Historic Trolley Tours
Experience the most magnificent and historic 478 acres in New York City. Join our expert tour guides to hear fascinating stories of Green-Wood’s permanent residents, see breathtaking views of Manhattan, tread where George Washington and his troops fought the Battle of Brooklyn, and much more.
1 event,
Jazz at Twilight
Jazz at Twilight
Celebrate summer at Green-Wood! Arrive just before the sun begins to dip below the horizon to enjoy sweeping views of the cemetery, New York Harbor, and downtown Manhattan awash in dazzling golden light. Then sit back and enjoy tunes from some of the best jazz bands in New York City as they play you into the night. Bring a blanket, pack a picnic, and take in the ambience of Green-Wood’s magnificent landscape at sunset.
2 events,
Pollinators in Chief
Pollinators in Chief
Stroll through Green-Wood and you will certainly see (and hear) wild bees going about their daily routine. Female bees are collecting nectar and pollen, and males are busily looking for mates. Bee biologist Sarah Kornbluth of the American Museum of Natural History leads this walking tour to highlight how bees live, the resources they need, and where they make their homes across the cemetery. Learn about the diversity of wild bee species (including bumble, carpenter, miner, leaf cutter, sweat, and more) and beecome a bee expert in just two hours.
Dead Distillers Trolley Tour
Dead Distillers Trolley Tour
Green-Wood is teaming up with our friends at Kings County Distillery to delve into the storied past of distilling in Brooklyn. The afternoon kicks off with a trolley tour of the cemetery’s “permanent residents” with whiskey connections, including the one and only casualty of the Brooklyn Whiskey Wars of the late 1860s and early 1870s. Afterward, the trolley will head to Kings County Distillery in the Brooklyn Navy Yard where visitors will see first-hand how whiskey is made and enjoy a tasting of four delectable varieties.
3 events,
Birding in Peace
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.
Alive at Green-Wood
Alive at Green-Wood
There's a lot more to a cemetery than death. There's life - a lot of it. In fact, for Green-Wood, the natural environment is a critical part of our future. Join us for this new walking tour to explore the potential of the Cemetery's 478 acres as a public garden, a distinction that means much more than manicured lawns and azaleas. It means that we work to teach our visitors about Green-Wood's ecology and environmental diversity. As an accredited arboretum, the Cemetery has over 7,000 trees and a master plan that includes new interpretive panels (signs) across the grounds. You'll learn so much about the natural beauty and wildlife at Green-Wood that you'll want to come back and give your own tour to family and friends!
Historic Trolley Tours
Historic Trolley Tours
Experience the most magnificent and historic 478 acres in New York City. Join our expert tour guides to hear fascinating stories of Green-Wood’s permanent residents, see breathtaking views of Manhattan, tread where George Washington and his troops fought the Battle of Brooklyn, and much more.
1 event,
Death Café
Death Café
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.
2 events,
Historic Trolley Tours
Historic Trolley Tours
Experience the most magnificent and historic 478 acres in New York City. Join our expert tour guides to hear fascinating stories of Green-Wood’s permanent residents, see breathtaking views of Manhattan, tread where George Washington and his troops fought the Battle of Brooklyn, and much more.
2018 Green-Wood Benefit
2018 Green-Wood Benefit
We hope you will join us at 6 PM on September 12, 2018 at the Eleventh Annual Gala in support of the future of Green-Wood.
As Green-Wood commemorates its 180th year, we are proud to present our bold vision for its future: an Education and Welcome Center, incorporating the newly restored Weir Greenhouse, and a new and inviting front landscape that will visually unite the Center with our historic grounds and make Green-Wood more welcoming to the community. Funds raised through this event will advance these exciting projects.
2 events,
Brooklyn and the Civil War
Brooklyn and the Civil War
During the Civil War, Brooklyn was the third largest city in the Union, and more than 30,000 of its residents enlisted as soldiers and sailors. Join Green-Wood Historian Jeff Richman and writer Matthew Dellinger as they share the stories of Brooklynites who took up arms: Clarence D. MacKenzie, the 12 year-old drummer boy who became the first casualty of the Civil War from Kings County; Colonel Edward Fowler who led the 14th Brooklyn Infantry at Gettysburg; Brooklyn native “The Gallant Samuel Sims,” who died at the Battle of the Crater in Petersburg, Virginia; and many others. The tour will also explore the crucial role of women on the home front, namely those who organized The Brooklyn Sanitary Fair of 1864, which raised funds for clothing and medical supplies for the troops.
Secrets in Stone
Secrets in Stone
There is a secret language at Green-Wood that’s etched upon the monuments: cemetery symbology. Learn the meaning of the inverted torch, bales of wheat, and an hourglass with wins, along with those that are a bit more difficult to decipher. This eye-opening walking tour will showcase the meaning of these eternal, but sometimes cryptic, images.
1 event,
Historic Trolley Tours
Historic Trolley Tours
Experience the most magnificent and historic 478 acres in New York City. Join our expert tour guides to hear fascinating stories of Green-Wood’s permanent residents, see breathtaking views of Manhattan, tread where George Washington and his troops fought the Battle of Brooklyn, and much more.
1 event,
Death Café
Death Café
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.
1 event,
Historic Trolley Tours
Historic Trolley Tours
Experience the most magnificent and historic 478 acres in New York City. Join our expert tour guides to hear fascinating stories of Green-Wood’s permanent residents, see breathtaking views of Manhattan, tread where George Washington and his troops fought the Battle of Brooklyn, and much more.
1 event,
Become a Citizen Pruner
Become a Citizen Pruner
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.
2 events,
“Bridging Two Worlds” Opening Party
“Bridging Two Worlds” Opening Party
Enjoy a special preview celebration of “Bridging Two Worlds” with the exhibition curators, participating artists, and collectors.
Moonlight Tour
Moonlight Tour
Join other fearless trekkers to explore Green-Wood’s intriguing tombstones and unforgettable catacombs under the glow of the full moon. Historian Jeff Richman leads these immensely popular walking tours, which begin at sunset and are accompanied by the ethereal and atmospheric sounds of live accordion music. Buy your tickets soon; these tours always sell out.
2 events,
Black in Nineteenth-Century Brooklyn
Black in Nineteenth-Century Brooklyn
In 1838, just eleven years after New York State abolished slavery, a free Black man named James Weeks made his first purchase of land in Brooklyn. In the same year, Green-Wood Cemetery was established as one of the first rural cemeteries in the United States. This tour begins with a survey of the many prominent Black New Yorkers and abolitionists laid to rest at the Cemetery, including Margaret Pine (1778–1857), the last woman to have lived as a slave in New York, Susan Smith McKinney Steward (1847–1918), whose family owned land in Weeksville and who became first black female doctor in the state, and the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat (1959–1988), among many others. Then we head to Weeksville Heritage Center in Crown Heights to learn about its history (one of America’s largest free Black communities prior to the Civil War) through the stories of its residents.
Day of Remembrance
Day of Remembrance
Remembrance is a unifying force when the pain of separation is validated and shared. This special evening embraces both the sadness and wisdom that stems from the loss of a loved one. With carefully selected poetry and music, we will share a beautiful series of rituals designed to heal and restore. The evening will conclude with the lighting of memorial lanterns at sunset and launching them onto Valley Water, a glacial pond near Green-Wood’s historic chapel.
3 events,
Birding in Peace
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.
Historic Trolley Tours
Historic Trolley Tours
Experience the most magnificent and historic 478 acres in New York City. Join our expert tour guides to hear fascinating stories of Green-Wood’s permanent residents, see breathtaking views of Manhattan, tread where George Washington and his troops fought the Battle of Brooklyn, and much more.
Victorian Fads
Victorian Fads
From arsenic complexion cream and electric corsets, to séances and spirit photography, the Victorians missed no opportunity to jump on the bandwagon of wacky and sometimes outrageously dangerous fads. On this tour, discover complex and compelling figures behind these crazes, such as the curious lengths to which Victorian women went to achieve ultra-white skin and the strange and dangerous obsession with green dye in the fashions of the day.
1 event,
(SOLD OUT) The JACK Quartet: Modern Medieval
(SOLD OUT) The JACK Quartet: Modern Medieval
The JACK Quartet were called “superheroes of the new music world” by The Boston Globe, and there could be no more apt description for this endlessly adventurous ensemble. They’ve played pieces completely in the dark, performed on a raft in the middle of a lake, and more. For The Angel’s Share, they will play an extraordinary program that follows a musical thread from medieval plainsong through to the present day, drawing sonic similarities from wildly divergent works and echoing the timelessness of the space surrounding them.
2 events,
Historic Trolley Tours
Historic Trolley Tours
Experience the most magnificent and historic 478 acres in New York City. Join our expert tour guides to hear fascinating stories of Green-Wood’s permanent residents, see breathtaking views of Manhattan, tread where George Washington and his troops fought the Battle of Brooklyn, and much more.
Sculpture in Gotham
Sculpture in Gotham
Art historian and Stony Brook professor Michele Bogart’s new book, Sculpture in Gotham: Art and Urban Renewal in New York City, explores how The Big Apple became an epicenter for public art in the second half of the twentieth century. Her research tracks the ways artists and civic leaders respond to the turbulent political and social climate to make dynamic and aspiring projects.
2 events,
Become a Citizen Pruner
Become a Citizen Pruner
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.
The Wicker Man: Ancient Origins and Modern Revival
The Wicker Man: Ancient Origins and Modern Revival
Each year in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, a towering figure made of wicker known as “The Man” is ceremoniously set ablaze at the culmination of Burning Man, the iconoclastic festival of community and art. The Wicker Man, however, dates back to the ancient Celtic world, when the Druids burned these giant figures in effigy, purportedly sometimes containing human sacrifices. This lecture, led by former lawyer turned religious studies scholar Amy Slonaker, explores the history and modern revival of the Wicker Man in neo-pagan rites and pop culture events and where legend and fact diverge.
1 event,
Twilight Tour
Twilight Tour
There are few places more atmospheric than a cemetery at dusk - and Green-Wood is top notch when it comes to beauty and atmosphere. As the sun sets on 478 spectacular acres, you'll weave through stunning landscapes and visit the graves of fascinating figures in New York and American history. This not-to-be-missed walking tour ends with a visit to the Catacombs, which are normally closed to the public.
3 events,
Even More Tiffany
Even More Tiffany
Green-Wood is home to a spectacular collection of stained glass windows designed by prominent artists of nineteenth century, including Louis Comfort Tiffany and John La Farge. Join Lindsy Parrott (director and curator at the Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass), Julie Sloan (a leading expert on and conservator of American stained glass), Kent Watkins (biographer of Mary Tillinghast, a little-known, but immensely talented stained glass artist who is interred at Green-Wood), and Green-Wood Historian Jeff Richman for the second part of this incredibly popular tour. Your guides will share their expertise while guiding you across the Cemetery’s 478 acres in the comfort of the Green-Wood’s trolley, between stops at historic mausoleums.
A Walk Through Time
A Walk Through Time
Architectural historian and author Francis Morrone has been named by Travel and Leisure magazine as one of the thirteen best tour guides in the world. Join him for his wit, wisdom and unique perspective on Green-Wood.
Twilight Tour
Twilight Tour
There are few places more atmospheric than a cemetery at dusk - and Green-Wood is top notch when it comes to beauty and atmosphere. As the sun sets on 478 spectacular acres, you'll weave through stunning landscapes and visit the graves of fascinating figures in New York and American history. This not-to-be-missed walking tour ends with a visit to the Catacombs, which are normally closed to the public.
2 events,
Open Doors
Open Doors
It’s back! One of Green-Wood’s most popular events returns with an afternoon of exploring some of the Cemetery’s most impressive and elaborate nineteenth-century mausoleums. Peek inside the elaborate gates of these ancient stone structures to view stunning examples of Green-Wood’s distinct architecture. At each location, docents will offer a glimpse into the lives of the personalities who now rest in these opulent edifices.
Twilight Tour
Twilight Tour
There are few places more atmospheric than a cemetery at dusk - and Green-Wood is top notch when it comes to beauty and atmosphere. As the sun sets on 478 spectacular acres, you'll weave through stunning landscapes and visit the graves of fascinating figures in New York and American history. This not-to-be-missed walking tour ends with a visit to the Catacombs, which are normally closed to the public.
1 event,
Historic Trolley Tours
Historic Trolley Tours
Experience the most magnificent and historic 478 acres in New York City. Join our expert tour guides to hear fascinating stories of Green-Wood’s permanent residents, see breathtaking views of Manhattan, tread where George Washington and his troops fought the Battle of Brooklyn, and much more.
1 event,
Become a Citizen Pruner
Become a Citizen Pruner
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.
1 event,
Twilight Tour
Twilight Tour
There are few places more atmospheric than a cemetery at dusk - and Green-Wood is top notch when it comes to beauty and atmosphere. As the sun sets on 478 spectacular acres, you'll weave through stunning landscapes and visit the graves of fascinating figures in New York and American history. This not-to-be-missed walking tour ends with a visit to the Catacombs, which are normally closed to the public.
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.
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