New York Marble Cemetery

New York Marble Cemetery Pass through two pairs of locked iron gates in a narrow alley and a secret garden appears. Strong.

This is the New York Marble Cemetery, the oldest non-sectarian burying ground in Manhattan opened to the public. It was organized in 1830 by Perkins Nichols, with legal assistance from Anthony Dey and George W. In response to fears about yellow fever outbreaks, recent legislation had outlawed earth graves, so marble vaults the size of small rooms were built ten feet underground in the excavated in

terior of the block bounded by Second Avenue, Second Street, Third Street and the Bowery. Access to the 156 family vaults was by the removal of stone slabs set below the grade of the lawn. No markers were placed on the ground; instead, marble plaques set into the Cemetery’s long north and south walls give the names of the families interred nearby. About 2,000 persons have been placed in the 156 subterranean tombs. Among the once-prominent people who purchased vaults and are buried in this quiet half-acre are the patron of American art, Luman Reed; Uriah Scribner of the publishing family; Aaron Clark - New York City’s first Whig mayor; Congressman and NYU President James Tallmadge; and Benjamin Wright, Father of American Civil Engineering. Others have names such as Hoyt, Dey, and Varick, recognized by anyone travelling through the city today. As a rule, all the descendants or heirs of the 19th century purchasers are the current owners and are entitled to use their vaults. The Cemetery is a 501(c)(13) registered charity and is a New York City Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places. It is open in nice weather the fourth Sunday of each month, April through October, as well as weekends in early May for the Owners' Meeting and mid-October for Open House New York.

May 28: a good day for chores
05/31/2026

May 28: a good day for chores

May 24: ...and I will visit in the rain
05/31/2026

May 24: ...and I will visit in the rain

We're here--come under our umbrella
05/24/2026

We're here--come under our umbrella

Seeking beauty? Show up Sunday between 12 & 4
05/20/2026

Seeking beauty? Show up Sunday between 12 & 4

Next Open Gate is Sunday, 5/24/26! We had a proposal this month...what's your plan?
05/20/2026

Next Open Gate is Sunday, 5/24/26!
We had a proposal this month...what's your plan?

Open Gate on Sunday, May 25th from 12-4
Bring your parasol!

05/20/2026

Enclosed by surrounding buildings for more than 150 years is a rare, undisturbed physical vestige of an earlier era in New York City. The New York Marble Cemetery was the first burial place in the city that was unaffiliated with a church. Built in 1831, at a time of urban epidemic, the mid-block lot...

Memorial ceremony and interment of ashes
05/20/2026

Memorial ceremony and interment of ashes

05/04/2026

Life in beautiful Colorado, USA

Spring is really here! Yesterday was gloriousOpen today, too
05/03/2026

Spring is really here! Yesterday was glorious
Open today, too

01/10/2026

Address

2nd Avenue Between 2nd And 3rd Streets
New York, NY

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