1. Washington Square Park Used to Be a Graveyard

washington square park aerial view from arch

In a more gruesome part of history, Washington Square Park was once a graveyard. In 1797, the land was acquired by the Common Council for use as a potter’s field (public grave site) and a place for public executions. Some historians think that the land might also have been used as a cemetery for one of the adjacent churches, as headstones have been unearthed in the park. According to the Bowery Boys, over 20,000 people are likely still buried in the Park out of as many as 125,000 people who might have been buried there.

In 2009, a 3-foot tall sandstone grave marker was uncovered during park renovations, engraved: “Here lies the body of James Jackson who departed this life the 22nd day of September 1799 aged 28 years native of the county of Kildare Ireland.” It was the only grave marker found during the renovation, but workers  came across bones and full skeletal sets “several times.”

Next, read about the Top 10 Secrets of Grand Central Terminal. Get in touch with the author @untappedmich. This article also partially written by Bernadette Moke and Benjamin Waldman.