Usually, when nightfalls and the historic gates of Green-Wood Cemetery swing shut for the evening, no one living is allowed on the other side. But this year, the historic Brooklyn burial ground re-introduced Green-Wood After Hours, a series of guided tours where guests can explore the cemetery under the cover of darkness. These special tours end with a visit to the Catacombs, one of the oldest features of the Cemetery and an area rarely opened to the public. If you are an Untapped New York Insider, you can join a free, members-only after-hours tour on October 1st! (You can use code JOINUS for your first month free membership)
The Green-Wood Cemetery Catacombs consist of 30 vaults set beneath a hill and secured by locked iron gates. Dating back to the early 1850s, the Catacombs provided an alternative to being buried in the ground when you couldn’t afford your own mausoleum. One of the most famous people entombed in the Catacombs is Ward McAllister, a Gilded Age high society tastemaker. It was McAllister who first referred to the guests of Mrs. Astor’s ballroom as “The 400,” an exclusive group of New York City’s highest-ranking members of society. Before introducing After Hours Tours, the Catacombs were only open to the public a few times a year for guided tours and special events such as concerts.
Courtesy of Green-Wood Cemetery
On this tour, you will weave through the Cemetery’s stunning landscape and visit the graves of fascinating figures in New York and American history. Along the way, you will meet the man who invited the sewing machine, and his trusty canine companion who is still with him today. Hear the story of a Black female entrepreneur who helped fund John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry, and learn the tragic story behind the Pilot’s Monument. Those are just a few highlights this two-hour will cover! Each tour is led by an expert Green-Wood Cemetery tour guide who is knowledgeable in the art, history, and nature found at the Cemetery.
Credit: Amy Nieporent
All guests are required to wear a mask and remain six feet away from other guests who are not in their group. The walk is over hilly and uneven terrain, so a flashlight and comfortable shoes are recommended. You can join a free, members-only edition of this tour on October 1st at 6:30 PM if you are an Untapped New York Insider! Not an Insider yet? Become a member today (and get your first month free with code JOINUS).
Nicole Saraniero is the Insider-in-Chief at Untapped New York, leading our Untapped New York Insiders membership program. Nicole graduated from Hofstra University with a Bachelor of Science in Televis
