New York City Marble Cemetery

The New York City Marble Cemetery is a burial ground in Manhattan containing 156 underground vaults made from white marble arranged in a grid beneath the lawn. The site was engineered to fit multiple chambers in a compact space by stacking them vertically.

It was founded in 1831 when New York City passed laws prohibiting earthen burials within city limits following yellow fever outbreaks. This legal requirement led to a new underground burial system.

The walls display marble tablets naming families who worked as merchants and professionals in 19th-century New York. These inscriptions reflect the social circles that shaped the city at that time.

The cemetery grounds are accessible to visitors only on specific dates throughout the year, primarily during warmer months. It is wise to check current opening dates before visiting and wear comfortable shoes as the pathways are narrow.

Rather than traditional gravestones, graves are accessed by lifting stone slabs from beneath the grass surface. This method made the burial ground one of the oldest examples of vertical burial in America.

Location: Manhattan

Inception: 1831

Part of: East Village/Lower East Side Historic District

Address: 52-74 Second Street

Website: http://nycmc.org

GPS coordinates: 40.72472,-73.98917

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:42