New York City Marble Cemetery

The New York City Marble Cemetery is a historic cemetery located in Manhattan, New York City. Established in 1831, it is one of the city's oldest private non-sectarian cemeteries, situated at 52-74 East 2nd Street between First and Second Avenues in the East Village neighborhood.

History

The cemetery was founded in response to the public health concerns of the time, following outbreaks of yellow fever and the subsequent ban on earthen burials. It was designed with underground marble burial vaults to address these concerns. The site was initially developed by five partners: Evert Bancker, Henry Booraem, Thomas Addis Emmett, Garret Storm, and Samuel Whittemore. The vaults were constructed by Perkins Nichols, who had previously worked on similar projects.

Design and Notable Features

The cemetery features 258 underground burial vaults made of Tuckahoe marble. Unlike its older counterpart, the New York Marble Cemetery, this location includes marble markers and monuments to indicate the positions of the vaults, reflecting the preferences of the vault owners. The cemetery was considered a fashionable place for burial due to its innovative design and construction.

Notable Burials

The New York City Marble Cemetery is the final resting place of several notable figures:

• Stephen Allen, Mayor of New York City and New York State Senator.
• Preserved Fish, a prominent merchant.
• David Sherwood Jackson, U.S. Congressman from 1847 to 1849.
• James Lenox, co-founder of the New York Public Library and founder of Presbyterian Hospital.
• Edward Elmer Potter, Civil War Brigadier General.
• James Henry Roosevelt, founder of Roosevelt Hospital, and other members of his branch of the Roosevelt family.
• John Lloyd Stephens, archaeologist known for his pioneering work in Mayan culture.
• Moses Taylor, financier and backer of the Atlantic Cable.
• Isaac Varian, Mayor of New York City from 1839 to 1841.
• Marinus Willett, Revolutionary War hero and Mayor of New York City from 1807 to 1808.

Additionally, the remains from the churchyard of the South Dutch Church were moved to this cemetery, which also contains the remains of the Kip family, after whom Kips Bay is named. Tradition holds that the bones of the first European men buried on Manhattan Island, the Dutch dominies, were moved to the "Ministers' Vault."

Former burials include John Ericsson, designer of the USS Monitor, whose remains were later moved to Sweden, and James Monroe, 5th President of the United States, whose remains were subsequently moved to Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia.

Landmark Status

The New York City Marble Cemetery was designated as a New York City Landmark in 1969 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It remains a significant historical site in Manhattan.

Public Access

The cemetery is open to the public twice a year, typically during spring and fall. It is considered a small jewel of beauty and peace within the bustling city. Despite having a small endowment, ongoing efforts are made to maintain the site's historical integrity.