About Friends

The Friends of the Woodlawn Cemetery, founded in 1999 as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is dedicated to the enjoyment and use of the cemetery by the general public, to preserving the architecturally significant structures on our property, and to protecting Woodlawn as a valuable green space by caring for the natural elements on our grounds.

Our organization brings to life art and history in an extraordinary outdoor setting. Woodlawn is a "must visit" if you want to learn more about prominent industrialists, music legends, renowned entertainers, and cultural icons. Working with leading scholars of architecture, botany, history, law, music, politics, and more, Friends offers educational and cultural programs including tours, concerts, lectures, and research opportunities. Tours and talks feature themes such as the Jazz Greats and Those Lost at Sea. Our concerts celebrate the musical genius of Irving Berlin, George M. Cohan, Celia Cruz, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Lionel Hampton, W.C. Handy, Victor Herbert, and other giants in their fields.

All year long, artists take advantage of Woodlawn's beauty; authors and poets come to share their work; children and families visit to learn about their environs; senior citizens enjoy peaceful yet stimulating afternoons; and students of all ages use the grounds as an outdoor classroom. Our goal is to share our significant cultural heritage with the wider community and to make the cemetery a destination for feeding our hearts, minds, and spirits. Historically, architecturally, and environmentally significant, Woodlawn is one of New York City's irreplaceable treasures, designated a National Historic Landmark in 2011.