Cemeteries can be fun

View from Altar of Liberty, Green-wood Cemetery, ca. 1915, v1973.5.1515; Brooklyn photograph and illustration collection, ARC.202; Brooklyn Historical Society.

Taken from a hill in Green-wood Cemetery, this photograph isn’t necessarily the quintessential photograph of a cemetery we are accustomed to seeing.  That may be because Green-wood Cemetery isn’t a typical cemetery.  Located in the present-day Brooklyn neighborhood of Sunset Park, it was founded in 1838. One of the cemetery’s most famous sites, Battle Hill,  is the highest point in Kings County.  On 478 acres of land whose hills roll, paths wind, and trees tower among the 560,000 people buried beneath, the cemetery is famous for its beauty.  In addition, it was the place to go in the late 19th century for a picnic, stroll, or family outing in the carriage.  Inspired by earlier rural cemeteries like Paris’s Pere Lachaise, Green-Wood cemetery helped spark the 19^th century public parks movement. Indeed, the Cemetery preceded Prospect Park by nearly 30 years.

On Thursday evening of this week, you can also experience the Green-wood Cemetery like Brooklynites before us.  Yes, we’ve moved our summer beer garden from the steps of Brooklyn Historical Society’s landmark stoop to the rolling hills and gothic spires of Green-wood Cemetery’s landmarked acreage.  Please join us for Brooklyn Brewery beer and beautiful scenery for Drinks to Die For from 6-8pm.  You can read more about the history of Green-wood Cemetery on their website or learn more upon arrival.  See you there!

Interested in seeing more photos from BHS’s collection? Visit our online image gallery, which includes a selection of our images. Interested in seeing even more historic Brooklyn images?