New York Marble Cemetery and New York City Marble Cemetery, two independent cemeteries with similar names, were built by the same developer in 1831 and located in close proximity. Both were established on the heels of epidemics ravaging New York City, and both of them used the same pattern of underground family-owned burial vaults. The main difference was that New York City Marble Cemetery allowed the use of monuments above the ground, identifying the locations of family vaults.
The most important person buried here was ex-President James Monroe, who had moved to New York in 1830 after the death of his wife. When Monroe died on July 4, 1831, he became one of the first buried here. The ceremonies were carried out with much pomp and pageantry. Even though Monroe’s remains were later moved to Virginia, his temporary stay gave the cemetery tremendous prestige. When it opened, New York City Marble Cemetery was considered the most fashionable burial spot.
The cemetery contains the remains of many other influential New Yorkers. Buried here are two mayors of New York City, Stephen Allen and Isaac Varian, and James Lenox, co-founder of the New York Public Library. Also resting here are six members of the Roosevelt family, including James Henry Roosevelt, who founded Roosevelt Hospital.
The cemetery, enclosed on its three sides by a high brick wall and houses, can be seen through a handsome iron fence with a gate located on the south side of East Second Street between First and Second Avenues. The cemetery is generally closed to the public, but has open days on the weekends in spring through fall.
Location 52-74 East 2nd Street between First and Second Ave in East
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