New York City can be overwhelming for even the savviest of travelers. Sometimes it is nice to step away from the hustle and bustle to relax among the rolling hills of a cemetery. Yes, a cemetery. A mere twenty minutes from Manhattan’s Financial District sits one of New York City’s secret treasures, Green-Wood Cemetery.
Founded in 1838, the iconic brownstone gates of Green-Wood transport visitors to a bygone era, free from congested traffic and stifling crowds. It is almost as if the cemetery and its 478 acres of lush green hillsides, kettle ponds and breathtaking mausoleums are immune from the constantly revolving hands of time.
Joggers and bicyclists are not allowed within the grounds, leaving visitors with a rare opportunity to meander through this seemingly rural countryside that happens to be in the heart of New York City. Adding to the rustic atmosphere is the plethora of wildlife, most notably a group of feral green parrots, which call Green-Wood home.
History buffs, who will no doubt revel in the hunt for such Green-Wood luminaries as F.A.O. Schwartz, Boss Tweed and Leonard Bernstein, will also enjoy trekking up to Battle Hill, an American Revolutionary War site and home to the city’s monument honoring those fallen during the Battle of Brooklyn.
Green-Wood Cemetery, located in Brooklyn’s Sunset Park neighborhood, is open seven days a week from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For additional information, visit the official Green-Wood website at www.green-wood.com.