Woodlawn Cemetery, is a historic, non-sectarian cemetery in the Bronx, New York City, New York. It is notable for its landscape design, architecturally-rich mausoleums, and the many prominent individuals interred there. Its artistic monuments represent some of the finest American funerary art.
Spanning more than 400 acres (160 hectares), Woodlawn is the final resting place for over 310,000 individuals. The cemetery has been said to be "an open-air art gallery, a living history museum, and an urban oasis." [1] The site attracts an impressive 100,000 visitors every year from around the world.
HistoryHistory
Woodlawn Cemetery was founded in 1863 by prominent New York City residents who wanted a tranquil park-like burial ground that was easily accessible from Manhattan.
The cemetery was designed with sweeping lawns, groves of trees, and dotted with waterscapes, in a landscape style that was made popular during the Victorian Era. It emphasized the connection between classical architecture and landscape. Thanks to its proximity to New York City, its peaceful setting, and clientele with unprecedented wealth, Woodlawn quickly grew to become an outdoor masterpiece.
In 2011, Woodlawn was designated a National Historic Landmark, joining a collection of 2,500 sites nationwide.
Notable featuresNotable features
Mausoleums
There are nearly 1,300 private mausoleums at Woodlawn Cemetery. Many are ornate and are designed in various architectural styles such as Egyptian Revival, Gothic Revival, Greek Revival, and Romanesque.
Jazz Corner
Many jazz musicians are buried close to one another in a designated section of Woodlawn Cemetery.[2] They include Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Lionel Hampton, and Max Roach.
ArboretumArboretum
The Woodlawn Cemetery Arboretum features more than 400 unique tree species including a variety of flowering, evergreen, and shade trees native to Asia, North America, and Europe.
The arboretum is home to 11 remarkable large trees,[3] each measuring more than five feet in diameter including varieties of Massive White Oak, Weeping European Beech, American Basswood, and Black Oak.
Notable burialsNotable burials
Admiral David Glasgow Farragut (1801–1870); naval officer and first person in U.S. history to hold the following ranks in the U.S. Navy: midshipman, lieutenant, commander, captain, rear admiral, vice admiral, admiral.
Farragut died a national hero on 14 August 1870. His monument resembles a ship's mast draped with a U.S. flag.
Herman Melville (1819 – 1891); American novelist, short story writer, and poet, best known for his novel, Moby-Dick
Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815 – 1902); American writer and activist who was a leader of the women's rights movement in the U.S., helping women gain the right to vote. View her gravestone HERE.
Irving Berlin (1888 – 1989); a Russian-born American composer and songwriter with numerous honors including an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, a Tony Award, and Presidential Medal of Freedom. Some of his famous songs included: "Puttin' on the Ritz", "White Christmas", and "Ain't No Business Like Snow Business".
Explore more about famous cemeteriesExplore more about famous cemeteries
- Cemetery Picnics Our Ancestors Attended, BillionGraves Blog
- London's Magnificent Seven Cemeteries, BillionGraves Blog
- Documenting Cemeteries with BillionGraves, Legacy Family Tree Webinars
- Cemetery Records Worldwide, BillionGraves, MyHeritage Catalog Collection
- The Seven Largest Cemeteries in the World, BillionGraves Blog
- 10 of the World's Most Beautiful Cemeteries, BillionGraves Blog
- 12 Ways to Use Gravestone Clues to Grow Your Family Tree, Legacy Family Tree Webinars
