New Yorkers who don’t spook easily might find NYC’s most well-known cemeteries to be places of tranquility and contemplation rather than sites for ghostly encounters. That’s because some famous NYC graveyards boast ornate mausoleums, lush scenery, and magnificent views of the Manhattan skyline that keep visitors coming back for more.
Below are the most well-known cemeteries in NYC that are perfect for an afternoon stroll or can simply be admired from a distance.
10 Historic Graveyards in NYC Worth Exploring
1) Green-Wood Cemetery
It’s strange to think that a graveyard can be like something out of a storybook. But this is the case at Green-Wood Cemetery, where resplendent ginkgo trees stand near a tranquil koi pond and decorative mausoleums dot the landscape. Founded in 1858, this Brooklyn graveyard is one of the most famous in NYC and well worth a visit given its rich history. It has an impressive list of permanent residents, including legendary music composer Leonard Bernstein, artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, and baseball executive Charles Ebbets, who co-owned the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1897 to 1902.
2) Trinity Church Cemetery
Stretching back to 1697, Trinity Church Cemetery in Lower Manhattan is one of the oldest graveyards in NYC. This burial ground is the final resting place of many famous historical figures, including Alexander Hamilton, John James Audubon, and John Jacob Astor, who perished aboard the Titanic in 1912. Before COVID hit, this iconic cemetery received approximately 2.5 million visitors in 2019, thanks in part to the Broadway smash “Hamilton,” which draws inspiration from several historical figures buried here, including Hamilton’s wife, Eliza.
3) Woodlawn Cemetery
While many of Trinity Church’s departed played a role in the founding of America, Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx is home to an artistic elite of writers, sculptors, and musicians. These influential figures left indelible marks in the world’s collective conscience. Among them are writers Herman Melville and Dorothy Parker, musicians Miles Davis and Duke Ellington, and singers Celia Cruz and Florence Mills. Must-see gravesites at Woodlawn Cemetery include Joseph Pulitzer’s memorial statue and department store magnate Rowland Macy’s tombstone topped with a floral stone necklace.
4) Calvary Cemetery
This Catholic cemetery in Woodside, Queens is the most populated burial ground in the United States, with over three million graves across 365 acres. Bisected by I-278, otherwise known as the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, this sprawling graveyard is hard to miss. Here, many Civil War veterans take up permanent residence amid the cemetery’s rolling hills, with the Manhattan skyline offering a scenic backdrop on the horizon. Oddly enough, these heroic figures were laid to rest alongside notorious mobsters and gangsters who dominated NYC’s underworld in the late 1800s to mid 19th century.
5) Third Cemetery of the Spanish-Portuguese Synagogue
Fronted today by a fleet of Citibikes, the Third Cemetery of the Spanish-Portuguese Synagogue in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood sits in stark contrast with its surrounding luxury high-rises. This small, historic cemetery on West 21st Street near Sixth Avenue dates back to 1829, but the synagogue’s roots go even deeper. Founded in 1654, the synagogue was one of the oldest Jewish congregations in America. The cemetery marks the final resting place of some of NYC’s earliest Jewish settlers, with some graves relocated here from three former locations in the city.
6) Moravian Cemetery
A self-proclaimed “burial park,” Moravian Cemetery in Staten Island features manicured grounds that explode in color during the fall, knolls that descend to a serene lake with a glassy surface, and craft tombstones clad in chalk-white stone. But the pièce de résistance of this 250-year-old cemetery is the Vanderbilt Mausoleum designed by architects Richard Morris Hunt and Frederick Law Olmsted. The mausoleum features breathtaking Gothic architecture complete with spires, arches, and intricate stone carvings. Completed in 1887, this extravagant tomb houses the remains of several members of the prominent Vanderbilt family who made their fortune in railroads and shipping.
7) New York Marble Cemetery
New Yorkers who are on the hunt for a wedding venue or a catwalk may consider Marble Cemetery in Manhattan’s East Village. Not to be confused with New York Marble Cemetery west of the East Village hamlet, this private burial ground established in 1831 holds 258 underground crypts and entombments. But its true appeal is the rentable, manicured garden space ringed with pre-war buildings, lush vegetation, and wooden benches.
8) Gravesend Cemetery
Founded circa 1658 by Lady Deborah Moody, Gravesend Cemetery in Brooklyn is steeped in history, blending Dutch and English colonial influences. This charming graveyard holds over 350 tombs across two acres of green space. Those familiar with NYC’s vast network of city streets and avenues will recognize influential names like Dyckman, Wyckoff, Van Siclen, and Stillwell, all laid to rest in this peaceful cemetery that offers a spectacular sunset view.
9) Pelham Cemetery
This cemetery on City Island in the Bronx features nautical-themed gravestones bearing images and figures from the sea — fish, anchors, and sailing ships among them. Dating back to the 1800s, Pelham Cemetery is one of the oldest in the Bronx and is still in use today. With its peaceful, windswept setting on a small island and panoramic views of the Long Island Sound, Pelham Cemetery makes for a restful and reflective visit.
10) Mount Olivet Cemetery
Last on this list is Mount Olivet Cemetery, named after the Mount of Olives rising 2,700 feet above sea level in Jerusalem’s Old City. This expansive cemetery is a botanical dream, with weeping cherry trees and crabapples that create a sea of magenta, pink, and burnt orange in the fall. Add in scenic views of Williamsburg and Lower Manhattan and it’s easy to see why this cemetery is one of the prettiest in NYC.
A Recap of 10 Historic Graveyards in NYC Worth Exploring
New York City’s cemeteries have a great deal of history embedded in their hallowed grounds. Each one has a unique story that speaks to those buried there, but also reflects new waves of immigration and cultural diversity that make NYC the great metropolis it is today.
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