Green-Wood Cemetery
Also known as: Greenwood Cemetery
Why it's listed
Green-Wood Cemetery occupies 478 acres of hilly land in western Brooklyn, on a glacial moraine that includes the borough's highest point. Incorporated in 1838, it began with 175 acres bought from farmers and was laid out by Major David Bates Douglass as a Picturesque rural cemetery, with winding drives named for plants and landscape features and alternating open lawns and shaded groves. Buildings include Richard Upjohn's Gothic Revival Main Gatehouse of 1861-63 and his Receiving Tomb of 1853, along with a chapel by Warren and Wetmore from 1911-13. About 555,000 people are interred here, among them Samuel Morse, Horace Greeley, Leonard Bernstein and many Civil War generals. The cemetery remains active, and its topography, road network and thousands of monuments continue to show the original design intent. Its broad views of New York Harbor and Manhattan remain notable features. These qualities led to its recognition for landscape design, architecture and association with prominent figures.
Significance in brief: The form presents Green-Wood as a comprehensive example of the Picturesque rural cemetery, whose original topography, drives and paths still reflect the founders' intentions. It also holds the graves of many nationally and locally notable people and one of the largest assemblages of Civil War burials in the nation. Its buildings and monuments show a wide range of architectural and artistic styles.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 97000228, listed March 8, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 500 25th Street, Brooklyn |
|---|---|
| County | Brooklyn |
| Listed | March 8, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000228 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architect / builder | Richard Upjohn (Main Gatehouse, Receiving Tomb); Warren and Wetmore (Chapel); Major David Bates Douglass (landscape design) |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival, Late Gothic Revival, Romanesque Revival, Classic Revival, Renaissance Revival, Eclectic Revival; Picturesque and Landscape Lawn site styles |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Art, Landscape Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated September 20, 2006 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still-active cemetery; function is funerary both historically and currently, with roughly 555,000 interments. |
| Acreage | 478 |
| Coordinates | 40.65162, -73.99053 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 97000228.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q239043
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.