A hilltop burial plot, a (possibly) haunted house, and more
When I toured the Van Cortlandt House Museum, a gorgeous 18th-century plantation house located in Van Cortlandt Park, I got a little more than I bargained on. As I walked up to the front door, a young man came running out, screaming at the top of his lungs. After he’d recovered his breath, he told me: “It’s haunted.”
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Whether or not you believe the house is haunted, Van Cortlandt Park is a cool place to visit. In addition to the House, which you can take a self-guided tour of, the park is home to tons of hiking trails, gorgeous trees, an old railway, and, of course, a couple cemeteries.
Vault Hill, situated atop a hill overlooking the manor, was once the burial place of the Van Cortlandt family, who lived in the house. It’s since been vandalized and sadly there’s not much to see there now, but it is an atmospheric place surrounded by beautiful woods.
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Nearby is the African burial ground, a small plot of land that was once the final resting place of enslaved people who worked on the land. Again, there’s not much to see there today, but it’s a lovely spot with trees, flowers, and signs you can read. There’s also the Memorial Grove, a nice, peaceful spot commemorating local war veterans.
Visiting ideas
Van Cortlandt Park is full of suprises, so you can just wander aimlessly if that’s your vibe, but it’s good to have a map if you want to see certain things. Start with a self-guided tour at Van Cortlandt House Museum, then visit the nearby Memorial Grove, African burial ground, and Grand Central Stones. Walk around the field and up the forested hill to see Vault Hill.
After that, if you’re in the mood for more, take the John Kieran Nature Trail (a short, very picturesque trail along the water), or hike the woods around Vault Hill. Be warned that there’s an athletic field in the middle of the park that often hosts marathons and school games, so watch out for stray balls and sweaty kids.
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At the end of the day, I wouldn't go out of your way to see Van Cortlandt Park if you're only in NYC for a limited time. None of the sites are exactly must-sees, but they are interesting and atmospheric, and it is a gorgeous park, especially in the fall.
In brief
Rating & Visiting info
3: Pretty cool
It’s an NYC park so it’s pretty much always open to the public, except really late at night when you shouldn't be hiking in the woods anyway. See current tours. The House is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and is free on Wednesdays. There are two sets of bathrooms in the park: one right by the House, and the othe in the clubhouse near the golf course, on the far side of the Mill Pond.
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Aim to be there the last week of October or first week of November, between 4 and 5 pm just before the sun sets. If it’s a calm, sunny day, the fall colors will be vibrant and luminous and the woods around Vault Hill will be bathed in a golden glow like soft lantern light. Truly unsurpassable.
Founding & Famous people
The Van Cortlandts owned the property from 1693 onward; the House dates to 1749.
No famous people, but cool vibes and possibly ghosts.
Location & Nearby sites
The Bronx
Take the 1 to 242 St, get off and walk into the park. Depending on where in the park you’re trying to get to, you may have to walk for about 15 minutes or so.
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Woodlawn Cemetery is nearby, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend trying to see that and Van Cortlandt Park in one day, as both are pretty massive. There are a few restaurants across the street, most notably Lloyd's Carrot Cake: home of the best carrot cake in NYC; and there's a cafe in the clubohuse (near the Mill Pond and golf course) that sells drinks and snacks.
