Until the mid-1800s, cemeteries were almost exclusively small plots on church grounds. During the late 1700s, we began to see a new style of cemetery develop in Europe. By the 1830s, the “rural cemetery movement” began to manifest itself in America. As a result of the movement, park-like cemeteries were created. New York’s Green-Wood Cemetery is a beautiful and historic example of an early “rural” cemetery.
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Green-Wood was a premier final destination, housing the remains of New York City’s elite in fields as varied as business, art, industry, and politics.
Among the most notable eternal residents are corrupt politician William “Boss” Tweed, toy store founder F.A.O. Schwarz, piano manufacturer Henry Steinway, and business magnates Charles Pfizer and William Colgate. More recent arrivals include famed artist Jean-Michel Basquiat and composer Leonard Bernstein.
The 400-acre grounds, built in 1838, are a stunning example of the rural cemetery movement, with Green-Wood often looking more like a beautiful city park than a graveyard.
Read the full story: Tour The Beautiful Cemetery Where New York’s Rich And Powerful Were Laid To Rest
