Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Green-Wood Cemetery


Mentioned in the reading as an early example of the rural cemetery in the Downing tradition, the Green-Wood Cemetery is an impressive resting place. It was created in 1838 and it was designed to be as naturalistic as possible, with views overlooking the harbor, grassy hills, and full-crowned trees. Many constructions in the cemetery were created by architects in a sort of gothic revival style, typified by ornate spires and detailing meant to fit with the beauty of the hilly land. The mausoleums were all very impressive and possessed a wide range of architectural styles, I guess as to be expected with shifts in time. It was a tranquil place, a fine spot to be buried in. Which I'm sure is why so many well-to-do people are interred there, such as artists, politicians, soldiers, and businessmen from the 19th century onwards. It is still very much a working cemetery, and many people were visiting graves when I poked around. I read that there is apparently a nesting colony of monk parakeets that have been cemetery residents since the 1960s, but I couldn't find any to take photos of.

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