New York City is home to many of the world’s most beautiful and historic cemeteries. And while many might think they’re of the most haunted places in NYC, the grand mausoleums, ancient tombstones, and lush landscapes make these burial grounds some of the most stunning spots in the city.
Where art, architecture, and the stories of countless souls intermingle, these hallowed grounds are a peaceful escape honoring the lives of many over the years.
1. Woodlawn Cemetery
Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx is actually a National Historic Landmark, and it’s home to many prominent figures, like jazz legend Duke Ellington and author Herman Melville. If you walk through the 400 acre graveyard of more than 300,000 souls, you’ll be met with stunning architecture, blooming foliage, and grand monuments like a Titanic memorial, Nathan Piccirilli monument, and more.
Where: 4199 Webster Ave, Bronx, NY
2. Green-Wood Cemetery
The Green-Wood Cemetery is one of the most beautiful cemeteries in Brooklyn, and is visited by nearly half a million people per year (competing with Niagara Falls as one of New York State’s most popular)! The 478 acre cemetery is mostly known for it’s picturesque landscape and impressive mausoleums…not to mention it’s the final resting place of people like Leonard Bernstein, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Horace Greeley.
During the fall, they host some pretty special seasonal events, including cabaret performances, walking and trolley tours, illuminated walking paths, opera concerts, and so much more.
Where: 500 25th St, Brooklyn, NY
3. Trinity Church Cemetery
This cemetery is one of Manhattan’s most unique, because it sits right in the middle of downtown! It’s right in the heart of FiDi and is the burial ground for notable figures such as Alexander Hamilton and other American Revolutionary War veterans. The accompanying Trinity Church Museum near it also sheds light on those who lay there, through a series of artifacts and records.
Where: 74 Trinity Place (near Wall Street and Broadway)
4. New York Marble Cemetery and New York City Marble Cemetery
These two adjacent cemeteries in the East Village date all the way back to 1831, where now 258 underground burial vaults made of Tuckahoe marble sit. The most interesting part? There are no above-ground monuments, and rather plaques in the cemetery’s walls. It’s one of the most peaceful places in the city.
Where: 52-74 E 2nd St
5. The Evergreens Cemetery
Deemed as being as historic cemetery in “rural” style, The Evergreens Cemetery is home to over 532,000 buried people. This includes notables such as tap legend Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, painter Martin Heade, and inventor of the sewing machine Elias Howe.
Where: 1629 Bushwick Ave, Brooklyn, NY
6. Gravesend Cemetery
Home to Lady Deborah Moody, the founder of Gravesend in Brooklyn, and many others, this cemetery is a grounds of many Revolutionary War veterans and Moody herself. It was listed as a Historic Place in NY back in 1980 and received a restoration in 2019.
Where: Gravesend Neck Rd and McDonald Ave, Brooklyn
7. Calvary Cemetery
Calvary Cemetery is one of the country’s largest, and is the first major cemetery to be established beyond the island of Manhattan by the Trustees of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It’s huge, and is divided into four sections across Queens. Besides being the burial ground for people like entertainer Tony Bennett and former NYC mayors Robert Wagner and Hugh Grant, the cemetery is gorgeous. You can find impressive Gothic Revival architecture throughout, including a massive Calvary Monument.
Where: Maspeth, Queens, NY
8. Mount Olivet Cemetery
Named for Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives, this cemetery in queens is the burial site for loads of American Revolution vets and their families. Plus, the rolling greens of the area and prime view of the Manhattan skyline make it one of the prettiest in the city.
Where: Maspeth, Queens, NY
9. Pelham Cemetery
Pelham Cemetery is right on the shore of City Island in the Bronx, and it’s a quaint and beautiful little waterfront resting place. While you watch boats cruise along the Long Island Sound, you can catch glimpses of tomb stones marked with appropriately located nautical etches of ships, compasses, and more.
Where: King Ave, Bronx, NY
10. St. John Cemetery
St. John Cemetery in Queens is best known for its beautiful Gothic Revival architecture and is the final resting place of many prominent figures, including several New York City mayors (like Mario Cuomo) and notable mobsters (like John Gotti). The cemetery’s serene environment and historical significance make it a fascinating place to visit for those interested in NYC’s rich past.
Where: 80-01 Metropolitan Ave, Middle Village, NY
11. Bonus: Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
Although it’s a little outside the city, the haunted Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Upstate New York is worth the fall day trip! This real-world Halloween town is home to one of the spookiest graveyards, and the 90 acre landmass is neighboring right where the Headless Horseman used to hang out; you can even take lantern tours of the cemetery.
Where: 540 N Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, NY