if you are in the area this is an absolute must see. It has the Grave of Hamilton, his wife and his…read moreson. There are also the graves of some other prominent figures as well. You should also go in to the church. It is beautiful and equally historic.

This cemetery seems way out of place when you look at the surroundings. I didn't even know it was…read morehere, otherwise I would have prioritized my visit here. I went to the 9/11 memorial, then stopped at the Oculus and walked a bit down the block and just stumbled upon it. I was so excited because I'm totally a "graveyard girl". It's so beautiful and actually seems quieter than the surrounding city. It's just a tiny square with a church in the center of the surrounding headstones. A large bell sits just outside the church doors. It looks old and mossy, and has all the components of creepy east coast graveyards. It's a very peaceful block.

If 1 were to ask me the 2 most beautiful, historic, aesthetically pleasing, and artistically…read moreenriching cemeteries in the northern U.S. (maybe the entire U.S.), I'd have to say it's a toss-up between Greenwood in Brooklyn, and Woodlawn in the Bronx. My personal favorite? Impossible to say; I love them both, even though I haven't been to either 1 in several years. Maybe Greenwood, because it's easier to get to. I first came to Woodlawn in the late 80s with my father, who wanted to look up the grave of his maternal grandfather. We stopped at the main office, which looked as if it hadn't been updated or refurbished since the time "Cemetery John engaged "Jafsie" Condon through the cemetery fence during futile negotiations for the return of the Lindbergh baby. However, cemetery staff were very helpful and we found the gravesite easily thanks to the map they provided. The cemetery itself is enormous, and enormously impressive. Its 1st burial occurring in 1865, Woodlawn is a 400-acre oasis of architectural splendor, pastoral loveliness, and restorative tranquility in the center of the Bronx. It's the last resting place for robber barons from the "Gilded Age" like Jay Gould and John "Bet A Million" Gates to humble artists like Herman Melville (his modest tombstone has the engraving of a blank sheet of paper on it) to statesmen like Fiorello LaGuardia (a friend said, "The Christian concept of Heaven was very real to him, except he believed it was achievable on earth, and, if he only hurried, possible in his lifetime.") and Ralph Bunche, to criminals like Ruth Snyder (her murder of her husband, accomplished with the aid of her lover, served as the basic plot for the classic film "Double Indemnity") and Charles Becker (a crooked cop executed in 1915 for the murder of gambler Herman Rosenthal, although he may have actually been innocent of that particular crime) to mobster Frank Scalise (his fatal shooting while buying fruit from a Bronx fruit stand was re-created in "The Godfather") to those you least expect, like Western lawman Bat Masterson. The more ornate, elaborate mausoleums resemble hilltop castles, a stark contrast to the tombs of the more humble "permanent residents" (like my great grandfather). Miles Davis, Duke Ellington and George M. Cohan are buried here. So is poor, luckless actress Diane Barrymore, daughter of John Barrymore and author of the book "Too Much, Too Soon." She died too young as a suicide and is buried in the plot of her mother's family. A multitude of family names are on the stone, with the exception of hers. I've always been haunted by some of the highly realistic and sometimes disturbingly lifelike statuary populating the cemetery. One in particular is of a lifesized nude woman (tastefully rendered) sitting alongside a grave in eternal mourning, or until she ultimately crumbles into dust. In turns mournful, sad, historic, lovely (in spite of the sometimes grim reality of the Bronx surrounding it), Woodlawn is a must visit cemetery on your list, if you visit any cemetery at all (although Greenwood in Brooklyn is in the running, as I've mentioned). If you're interested in the history of cemeteries, or of NYC, or just in history itself, Woodlawn is a repository of it all.

Small chapel and lovely service for a dearly departed friend. Several prayers, singing and eulogy…read moredone. The funeral service to the crypt was by car to a very large plot area. The service was short due to the cold but a great memory to our friend. Rest In Peace. Lot parking.

[666] Our family…read moreuses this cemetery and we are very happy. The place is large so the gravesites do not feel on top of each other. They have all different types of sites available - high stone, flat to ground, permanent site for remains (ashes). The facility is well taken care of and the lawn looks beautiful. Plenty of trash cans around the property. Just like any other cemetery.. keep track of the time.. You don't want to get locked in :) I'll definitely be back to pay my respects for family and friends lost.

Gary who runs it excellent he runs that place like a Swiss clock he takes care of people and he's a…read morefuneral then he's always on time he's very diligent any questions he helps you out answers all your questions it's unbelievable experience that you can't believe that someone in the cemetery would have like some cemeteries don't have what he has he has care compassion he let Great Sha. Wa

Such a beautiful, peaceful cemetery, with a lot of famous people buried/interred here…read more I specifically went to see civil rights icon Malcolm X, author and revolutionary James Baldwin, jazz great Thelonious Monk, and got the bonus of seeing Ossie and Ruby Dee Davis, another acting/civil rights power couple. I was stunned at how simple and humble the markers were. No big monuments. Somehow that made it better. More powerful. Aaliyah, John Lennon, Ed Sullivan, Judy Garland, and several other celebrities are buried or interred here. The crematorium and mausoleums are beautiful and peaceful. I stopped into one of the structures to ask for directions. It can be confusing if you haven't been before. The employee was so helpful! He drew directions on a map, told me exact locations, gave me advice on the best ways to get to each grave. He was also talkative, engaged, and we discussed some history. At first I was frustrated and had a hard time finding what I was looking for, even with the very clearly marked map. But for one, there is a digital directory in each building, which will provide QR codes that will give you direct directions to each site. The other thing it took me far too long to figure out (and I have three bachelor's degrees and two master's degrees and a medical degree haha)--is that when you're told someone is buried in plot # so and so, there really are literally small numbers engraved at the bottom of each marker. So as long as you know which section you're looking for (they are marked in the directory and on the map), you can easily find a particular person without wandering around aimlessly (which is what I did for the first 40 minutes or so). There are plenty of roadways so you can drive around and cover a lot of ground. Really enjoyed my time here. And the employees are so phenomenal. Thank you so much, Ferncliff!

I initially came here at the start of my decades-long interest in historic cemeteries. I had…read morealready been to nearby Gate of Heaven and Kensico on my own, but had my father drive me to Ferncliff the 1st time because he was much more familiar with NYC and its outer environs than I was. What prompted that initial interest? Joan Crawford and Malcolm X. The cemetery was begun in 1927 and is a lovely expanse of property, with many trees and abundant foliage. Our 1st stop was the magnificent Cathedral of Memories community mausoleum, built in 1927. Several stories high, its hallways are somber yet elegant, having very much the art deco-ish feel and aura of NY as it must have been in the 20s and 30s, with polished marble corridors and stately private niches for the more affluent. Some of these private niches have gates, couches to sit on, and stained-glass windows. Joan Crawford wasn't a great actress, but she was always entertaining (and I had a kind of crush on her as a teenager, although, as my oldest friend has said, "When you were a teenager, if they were female and breathing, you had kind of a crush on them, whether it was Pat Nixon or Nastassja Kinski."), and, speaking as an adopted person, I found the memoir of her abused adopted daughter Christina mesmerizing (just to clarify, my own adoptive parents were decent, good-hearted, non-abusive people, so it's not like I could relate to the specific trauma of her abuse). Joan is buried in a simple vault with her Pepsi executive husband, Al Steele. Around the corner, is the modest monument to Ed Sullivan, sports columnist turned TV host who showcased the Beatles for America. In the past, Judy Garland was buried on the 2nd floor, and you could easily find her modest tomb by the flood of fresh flowers displayed in front of it every day. I was always a fan of "Wizard of Oz," but I hadn't realized that she was such a gay icon. From what I've read, she's no longer buried there, as her children arranged for her re-burial in CA. On 1 visit by myself, I wanted to find the tomb of Ona Munson, an actor in "Gone With The Wind" and a suicide. (On a side note, I watched the film as an adult and was horrified at its blithe sanction of marital rape, the Ku Klux Klan, and the idea that blacks are simpletons happiest as slaves on a plantation). I had to go down a stairway to the basement that was dark and a little unnerving. Munson is buried in a wall crypt, not far from Sherman Billingsley, former bootlegger and owner of the celebrated Stork Club. Malcolm X, a hero of mine, is buried in a simple grave on the other side of the cemetery. Not far away is the grave of Diana Sands, who was in the stage version of "Raisin in the Sun," and died tragically of cancer at 39 (she was also in a mediocre episode of the original "Outer Limits"). Nearby is the 2nd community mausoleum, known as the Shrine of Memories, built in 1959. I came here to find the crypt of distinguished actor Basil Rathbone, famous for Sherlock Holmes and "Son of Frankenstein" (and also considered one of the few genuinely nice people in Hollywood). A lot of other famous people are buried here, along with the not-so-famous. Ossie Davis, Whitney Young, Thelonious Monk, James Baldwin, Ruby Dee, Jerome Kern, Aaliyah Houghton, "Trigger Mike" Coppola. John Lennon and Christopher Reeve were cremated at Ferncliff, although they are not buried here. On a personal note, before my re-union with my genetic family, I always wondered if I had relatives or ancestors buried in these cemeteries that I visited. Turns out, my great uncle is buried in the Cathedral of Memories, in a private niche with his wife and infant daughter. I never met my maternal grandfather, but his is a fascinating story. He could trace his paternal lineage to the 1700s in New Hampshire; there's actually a book on Amazon outlining the family tree from the 1700s to 1917. My great grandfather was a doctor who lost everything due to alcoholism (or so I've been told), moved to Brooklyn, and married my great grandmother, an Irish Catholic. According to my birth mother, my great uncle aspired to lofty heights, marrying a wealthy WASP and becoming the mayor of a north NJ town. Their infant daughter died of a heart malady-- the heart health of my entire maternal line is not good. When my grandmother told me that he was buried in Ferncliff, I brought her up to visit along with my birth mother. We found the private niche, and my grandmother talked about the family history and the death of poor Jocelyn, who perished in 1940. As someone who never knew their ethnic history or ancestry or genealogy until adulthood, standing there with my birth mother, listening to my grandmother illustrating that history as only someone who was actually there can, was an unforgettable moment of enlightenment, clarity and understanding that I'll always cherish. A beautiful, historic place for reflection, mourning, remembering, and...in the case of someone like me ...discovering.

This is not a well kept cemetery overall, and there are more impressive cemeteries to visit (Green…read moreWood for example), but I happened to have a rental car, so I made the trek out here to see Houdini's final resting place. This place is not conveniently located, but the gravesite is intriguing. His bust has been stolen multiple times (the Houdini museum has one that was recovered--see my review). This one has stayed intact for a while. His grieving wife makes for a poignant picture. Overall, much of it is grown up or not easily accessible, but where else will you find this oddity?

It's not a widely known fact that Harry Houdini is buried in Queens…read more I really enjoyed this little adventure. The cemetery is neglected/possibly abandoned but so very peaceful. There are overturned gravestones, weeds, tree stumps strewn about. They recently demolished the old office building that previously stood in the front. It also appears that the Houdini gravesite is the only one that receives any upkeep. It's a family plot and quite nice. There are playing cards and other artifacts adorning the gravestone. I didn't see a single person when I visited on a Sunday. According to Google, the cemetery (being Jewish and all) is closed on Saturdays. It's open 8-430 other days and I assume someone opens/locks the front gates. Btw - the gravesite is right in the front, visible from the street, so you don't have to venture far. But I encourage you to anyway! Really cool piece of history to check out.

We had a loved one's wake this week and we were absolutely impressed by how compassionate,…read morerespectful, and professional the staff was. They all went above and beyond to ensure our loved one was honored with dignity. The interior was absolutely beautiful, tastefully decorated, immaculately clean, and filled with soft lighting that created a serene and dignified environment. The space felt both elegant and comforting, offering a place of quiet reflection and peace. Thank you to the owners and staff at Riverdale On The Hudson Funeral Home for making my experience in your established very comforting. I will highly recommend to family and friends.

Making arrangements after a loved one has passed is a stressful endeavor for anyone. However our…read moreexperience at Riverdale-on-Hudson was a very positive one. It was as easy and as stress-free as it could be under the circumstances. We worked with Laura, our funeral director, who was extremely accommodating and helpful. Our requests were simple and nothing was pushed on us which we really appreciated. This was our second experience with ROH, having had our mom's funeral there, which was equally positive. Because of our streamlined requests for cremation without any extra trappings the cost to us was very reasonable. We had a beautiful video which was part of the service and a large room to welcome the visitors. The memorial service was lovely. Laura did a fantastic job leading the ceremony and invited others to share their stories and memories. I can't say enough. ROH is a real gem in the Riverdale community.

For the year 2026, this is my first funeral for the year and it happens that they were getting…read morehurried at the Evergreen Cemetery located in Brooklyn. It is my first time actually having a Chinatown funeral and going to a cemetery in New York. This cemetery did seem quite peaceful and the burial plot was overlooking the city across the way. I thought it was nice and also that even in the burials there was already a community of people with all their English names with their Chinese names as well. This cemetery is big so there were a lot of plots and many gravestones. We spent quite a while here but time actually felt like it went by so quickly. It is a great resting place.

Thee most gorgeous gothic-looking cemetery entrance in a beautifully maintained park down in…read moreBrooklyn? I think. I've been told 5+ McMullens are buried beneath this one internment stone. It's on the "poor Irish side", which has grassy hills and more space than the fancy fancies anyway. I spent a sunny afternoon trying to figure out where my peeps were then I hung around with them and asked to be shown 1/10 of their creative talents. Xo McMullens

We had such a great experience here. We were greeted outside by a very nice young lady while we…read moresearched through all the tombstones. She then referred us to Ray who could help us further. We were five members of a Dominican family in so much pain from the loss of my 19 year old brother. We screamed, laughed, cried, stood up, sat down, and walked out. And Ray understood all of it. He worked with us through it all and not one moment did he seem annoyed in the slightest. We were even there after closing and after I mentioned it he said he didn't care he would sit with us as long as it took for us to come to a decision. This was not even a week ago. So needless to say I still don't know what the tombstone looks like, but I will post another review as soon as I do! Point is if you want to be treated with compassion under these terrible circumstances, and not just another customer come here! Thanks Ray!

We got my grandmothers stone here in 2001 when she passed away. It took a very long time to come,…read moreseveral months but when it did, it was definitely worth it. It's exactly what my family pictured and the quality is amazing. My grandma made 25 years gone last month and it still looks great. We clean it every time we come with water and soap and it's good as new! Great value for what we got