First Shearith Israel Graveyard
Also known as: Chatham Square Cemetery
Why it's listed
Tucked half a block from Chatham Square in Manhattan, this small trapezoid of ground of barely a tenth of an acre is the remnant of a Jewish burial ground first purchased in 1682 by Congregation Shearith Israel. About seventy legible tombstones mark 107 identifiable graves, the earliest dated 1683 and the latest 1825. Most stones are flat slabs in the Sephardic custom, with inscriptions in Hebrew, Spanish, Portuguese and later English. The cemetery once ran far to the north and south, but landslides on its hillside, street extensions and the 1855 condemnation for the New Bowery steadily reduced it, and many graves were moved to the 21st Street cemetery. Heavy stone walls now hold back the earth, and a small park donated to the city improves its setting. It is considered the second oldest burial ground in the city with continuous use, and perhaps the oldest. It records the history of New York's early Jewish community, which won civil liberties step by step.
Significance in brief: The graveyard is the surviving remnant of the second oldest burial ground in New York City with an unbroken tradition, and some authorities consider it the oldest on Manhattan. For about a century and a half it served as the burial place, for most of that time the only one, of New York's Jewish community. It preserves a continuous record of that community's members, including merchants, patriots, craftsmen and religious leaders.
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 80002689, listed April 17, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 55-57 St. James Pl., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | April 17, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002689 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1682 - 1831 |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Military, Education, Politics/Government, Religion |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still an occupied private cemetery owned by the congregation; about 70 legible tombstones mark 107 identifiable graves, and the form rates its condition as good and altered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.71284, -73.99838 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
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 80002689.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5453797
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.