A tiny garden cemetery down a secret alley
The New York Marble Cemetery is an idyllic little plot tucked away in an alley at 41½ 2nd Ave. Because of yellow fever outbreaks at the time the cemetery was established, the 2000 people buried there were interred in marble vaults 10 feet underground. Grave markers were then set into the surrounding wall. You can still be buried there if you can prove you’re a descendant of one of the original vault owners.
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It's only open once a month for part of the year, which certainly adds to its hidden charm. Entering the brick alley and passing under the iron gate with the cemetery’s name on it was awesome, and when I went, the weather was fair, the tulips were vibrant, and the blossoms smelled wonderful.
A nice place to spend a couple hours on a fine spring or summer day, it's one of New York’s most unique cemeteries, and if you live in the neighborhood you should definitely stop in. But I wouldn't bend over backwards to see it, because when all is said and done, there’s just not that much to see.
Visiting ideas
You can see this whole place in about 10 minutes, but it is a nice place to sit and read, contemplate, or jot down some poetry. It’s also in a great part of NYC. Just around the corner on E 2nd St is one of my two favorite record stores in the city (Ergot Records, the other is Westsider Records), and Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks: a charming little shop that only sells cookbooks. John Derian, a little farther up E 2nd St, is a beautiful gift shop and home goods store to browse, though I’ve never bought anything there as the pricing is so far out of my range it’s laughable.
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A short walk away is The Merchant’s House Museum: New York’s most continuously lived in home, with all the interiors preserved exactly as they were when the last resident died. It’s also one of the most haunted houses in NYC, with candlelight ghost tours offered every fall.
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If you’re willing to walk a little farther afield, the area is full of great, one-of-a-kind museums like The Tenement Museum, where you can see how New York’s immigrant population lived; the Museum of Ice Cream, an interactive experience centered around ice cream; and the New Museum, a world-famous contemporary art gallery.
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And hey, while you’re in the area you may as well walk one block over to the OTHER New York Marble Cemetery (take 2nd Ave and turn left onto 2nd St). This one isn’t open to the public, but you can see it pretty well from the street.
In brief
Rating & Visiting info
2: Semi-interesting
Open to the public one day a month April through October, usually from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Check this year’s schedule here.
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April or May, when the flowers are blooming, is a great time to visit. But watch out for April showers, because the cemetery will be closed if it rains.
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You should know that there are two New York Marble Cemeteries, built by the same developer in the same year within one block of each other. The other is not generally open to the public.
Founding & Famous people
1831
There are some interesting people buried here, but likely no one you've heard of unless you've done some DEEP dives into NYC history.
Location & Nearby sites
Lower East Side
Take the F to 2nd Ave and walk up 2nd Ave. The cemetery is located at 41½ 2nd Ave between E 2nd and E 3rd St. Entrance is via an alleyway.
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Nearby sites include the Merchant’s House Museum, New Museum, and Washington Square Park. Katz’s Delicatessen and Russ and Daughters are two delicious Jewish delis nearby, and Levain Bakery is a great place to get some of the best cookies in NYC.
