Greet in the Green: An Afternoon at Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn
Nearly 90-degree heat was no match for the determined crew who gathered for a tour led by Greeter George Lopez at Green-Wood Cemetery.
We knew we'd arrived somewhere special before even stepping through the gates—overhead, a colony of monk parakeets held court in the Gothic entrance spires, their raucous chatter a fitting welcome to one of Brooklyn's most extraordinary landmarks. Passing beneath Richard M. Upjohn's stunning 1861 Gothic Revival arch feels like walking through a cathedral façade.
Founded in 1838 as one of the first rural cemeteries in the United States, Green-Wood was built on the premise that a burial ground should be a place of beauty and serenity for the living as much as a resting place for the dead.
Today it spans 478 acres, features more than 8,000 trees, and holds certification as an arboretum—a remarkable blend of history, architecture, and nature that George wove together for us.
Among its 580,000 permanent residents are thousands of Civil War veterans alongside some of the most fascinating figures in American life, including Leonard Bernstein, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Louis Comfort Tiffany, and Governor DeWitt Clinton.
George also pointed out the grave of Dr. William Stewart Halsted, known as the father of American modern surgery, who revolutionized the operating room by introducing rubber surgical gloves and pioneering several groundbreaking procedures.
Also at rest here is Elias Howe, the inventor who patented the modern sewing machine in 1846, much to our surprise, as more than a few of us had assumed it was a certain Mr. Singer!
George then led us to Battle Hill, the highest natural point in Brooklyn. On August 27, 1776, this ground became a focal point of the Battle of Brooklyn—the first major engagement of the American Revolution following the signing of the Declaration of Independence—with General George Washington commanding the Continental Army.
And then, of course, came the ghost stories. Among Green-Wood's most haunting legends is that of the "Green-Wood Bride," a young woman who died tragically on her honeymoon. It is said that her spirit still wanders the grounds at night—a fleeting vision in white beneath the moonlight. Boo!
Our group left with a profound appreciation for this unique sanctuary.
Thank you, George, for an unforgettable Greet!
