Overview and History
About
Trinity Church Cemetery and Mausoleum, located uptown, features a modern community mausoleum complex and is the only active mausoleum in Manhattan. A ministry of Trinity Church Wall Street, Trinity Church Cemetery and Mausoleum in Hamilton Heights has a rich history in New York and is listed on the National Register of Historic places.
The historic cemetery provides a timeless memorial honoring many influential New Yorkers including politicians, artists, writers, architects, musicians, and many others from all walks of life. Trinity Church Cemetery and Mausoleum is the resting place for many notable New Yorkers including John James Audubon, Eliza Jumel, John Jacob Astor, Mayor Edward I. Koch, and Governor John Adams Dix.
Wandering the grounds, visitors will find numerous examples of 19th and early 20th century funerary sculpture and architecture. The cemetery is also the center of the Heritage Rose District of New York City. Heritage roses are varieties that have been around for centuries but are now, in many cases, nearly extinct. Several of our plants are grown from cuttings of the some of the last known shrubs in existence. Learn more about what you’ll find onsite in our photo gallery or go on a self-guided tour using our guide. Plan your visit.
Trinity also has two historic churchyards in Lower Manhattan, located at Trinity Church and St. Paul's Chapel, which are the resting places of important figures in American history including Alexander Hamilton in Trinity Churchyard.
History
Trinity Church Cemetery and Mausoleum was founded in 1842 by the parish of Trinity Church Wall Street. It was opened after burials could no longer be performed at Trinity’s historic churchyards in Lower Manhattan at Trinity Church and St. Paul’s Chapel.
The cemetery grounds, overlooking the Hudson River, were originally laid out by renowned architect James Renwick Jr. This was his first commission. Mr. Renwick is known for designing St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the Smithsonian Institution’s most iconic building, the Castle.
Prior to the founding of the cemetery, the grounds were also the site of the Battle of Fort Washington. During the Revolutionary War, the Continental Army constructed a line of defenses called the Middle Redoubt that extended from the Hudson to the Harlem River. They attempted to hold it against a southern assault by the British but were eventually outflanked by troops crossing the Harlem River. They were forced to retreat to Fort Washington, which fell a short time later.
Today, Trinity Church Cemetery and Mausoleum offers a modern community mausoleum complex, which was added to the cemetery in 1980. As the only active mausoleum in Manhattan, Trinity continues to offer families a place for quiet reflection and remembrance.
Video
Trinity Church Cemetery and Mausoleum is a place rich with history. Learn more about the uptown cemetery's connections to Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, Eliza Jumel, John Jacob Astor IV, Clement Clarke Moore, Benjamin Moore, and John James Audubon. Dating back to 1842, the cemetery and mausoleum are still active, continuing to serve our community today.