Green-Wood Cemetery, Winding Roads

A view of the rolling hills and winding roads of the picturesque Green-Wood Cemetery. A rare retreat in the centre of Brooklyn.

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Giving Thanks

I find it appropriate on Thanksgiving to share this image I took while touring the historical Green-Wood Cemetery.  There are quite a few American heroes buried here including those that fell in the civil war as well as the more recent victims of 9/11, including a very poignant grave of three firefighters who were best friends. I have always thought of Thanksgiving as a time to remember those who have made extreme sacrifices for their country so that all of us can continue to enjoy the freedom and founding values of democracy. Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!‘

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The Angel of Grief

Green-Wood Cemetery is not only known for its famous celebrity residents, but also has one of the largest statuary and mausoleums in the country. During the walking tour, we came across this Angel of Grief, also known as a Weeping Angel. I think it looks even more melancholic without its hands.

The original Angel of Grief goes back to 1884, built by the sculptor William Wetmore Story, and is located in a protestant cemetery in Rome. This specific statue was portrayed in the magazine Victorian Cemetery Art – who knew there is a magazine devoted to this topic?!

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The Guardians of Green-Wood

Another photograph taken of the old, majestic trees that are everywhere in Green-Wood Cemetery. These trees remind me of old guardians, protecting the liminal realm between life and death.

 

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Greenwood Cemetery – a must-see in Brooklyn

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of taking a historic walking tour of Green-Wood cemetery, a national historic landmark in Brooklyn. It was a beautiful fall day, and I could not believe the extent and historic value of this famous cemetery, over 478 acres of hills, valleys, glacial ponds and paths containing the largest outdoor collection of 19th and 20th century stauary and mausoleums. Our knowledgeable guide, Ruth Edebohls,  showed us extravagant mausoleums and grave sites belonging such local celebrities as the first Brooklyn baseball player to become famous, those who perished in the Titanic and Lusitania, as well as many artists and civil war heroes. At one point in history, during the late 1800s, Green-Wood was tied with Niagara Falls as the most popular tourist destination in America! I highly recommend taking in this historic Brooklyn landmark, and it seems there is always some tour going on (they even have their own bright green trolleys!); its public programming is really quite extensive. Stay tuned, more photos to follow!

Here is little blurb from their site: Four seasons of beauty from century-and-a-half-old trees  offer a peaceful oasis to visitors, as well as its 560,000 permanent residents,  including Leonard Bernstein, Boss Tweed, Charles Ebbets, Jean-Michel  Basquiat, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Horace Greeley, Civil War generals,  baseball legends, politicians, artists, entertainers and inventors.

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