Prospect Cemetery
Why it's listed
Prospect Cemetery is a four-acre burial ground in Jamaica, Queens, established in 1668 by the village of Jamaica and used for burials until 1988. It holds roughly 240 family plots and about 2,100 burials, including many Revolutionary War soldiers. Gravestones range from a simple brownstone marker dated 1728 to later obelisks, with carved skulls, angels and neoclassical urns. The grounds grew in stages: Isaac Simonson added land to the west in 1841, and merchant Nicholas Ludlum added three acres to the east in 1856. In 1857 Ludlum built the Chapel of the Sisters, a Romanesque Revival fieldstone building with brownstone trim, as a memorial to his three daughters. The Prospect Cemetery Association took over the cemetery in 1879. The site is recognized as the oldest cemetery in Jamaica and for its funerary art, though weeds cover many stones and the chapel has deteriorated.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the oldest cemetery in Jamaica and a rare survivor of late seventeenth-century development on Long Island, tied to the settlement and growth of Jamaica (Criterion A). It also holds a collection of funerary architecture and art, including gravestones from 1728 onward and a Romanesque Revival chapel, reflecting changing religious and social customs (Criterion C).
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 01001438, listed January 11, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 159th St. and Beaver Rd., Jamaica |
|---|---|
| County | Queens |
| Listed | January 11, 2002 |
| Reference number | 01001438 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1668-1951 |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival (Chapel of the Sisters); Section 7 classification listed as N/A |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Art |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Inactive since its last burial in 1988. The land is overgrown, and the chapel is damaged by moisture, neglect and vandalism, with its entrances and windows sealed. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 40.70157, -73.79944 (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 01001438.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7250729
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.