Calvary Cemetery: America's Largest Cemetery in Woodside, New York
Calvary Cemetery in Woodside, NY is the largest cemetery in the United States. New York is the first US city many immigrants experience when they enter America and for some it's their final as well.
The cemetery offers a snapshot of America's immigrant population in the 1800s. Grave markers note birth places and death places documenting a person's journey across the world for a better life. Not all who came to America survived the epidemics of the tenements.
Walking through Calvary Cemetery is like opening an Ellis Island logbook of immigrants entering the United States. A great deal of history can be learned from reading the tombstones of those who passed.
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History of Calvary Cemetery
On October 29, 1845, the trustees of St. Patrick's Cathedral purchased 71 acres of land in Maspeth, New York from John McMenoy and John McNolte. This land purchase would result in one of America's most important historical cemeteries.
The establishment of a new Roman Catholic cemetery outside of Manhattan solved a few problems. The island of Manhattan was running out of space for burials in the 1840s and bodies needed to be relocated from Old Patrick’s Cathedral to make room for urban expansion in the East Village. Because even in the 1800s real estate was more important than someone's eternal resting place.
New York's growing immigrant population, particularly the Irish Catholic community needed affordable burial options because they were hit hardest by cholera and other epidemics that swept through the tenements taking lives indiscriminately. In the early days of Calvary, there were up to 50 burials a day.
Burial costs were kept low, with prices ranging from $3 to $7 depending on age, making it accessible to the working class.
The first burial took place on August 2, 1848, for Esther Ennis. According to a visitor's guide to the cemetery published in 1876, the name inscribed on the wooden cross was Easter Ennis. Not sure if this is an error or if other sources have the name wrong.
Archbishop John Hughes consecrated the cemetery in August 1848. The name Calvary Cemetery was derived from Mount Calvary where Jesus was crucified according to the New Testament.
Old Calvary was full within the first 19 years in operation which necessitated the addition of the other sections. In 1867 the Archdiocese of New York purchased additional land to create Sections 2-4. Calvary Cemetery is divided into four major sections, each named after ancient Roman catacombs.
The First Calvary (St. Calixtus Division) is known as Old Calvary and Sections 2-4 are collectively called New Calvary. The official names are St Agnes, St Sebastian, and St Domitilla.
These sections reflect the continuing growth of New York's Catholic population and include burials from the late 19th century through the present day. Calvary Cemetery's layout is less ornate and more densely packed, unlike other cemeteries. This reflects the working-class nature of many of its interments, where space efficiency was prioritized over aesthetic considerations.
Today, it spans 365 acres across Maspeth and Woodside, offering a sprawling landscape of history and memory. By contrast, Spring Grove Cemetery, the nation’s third largest, has only 333 acres developed of its 700 acres and only 250,000 burials.
As a Catholic cemetery, Calvary features numerous crucifixion scenes, carved crosses, and statues of Mary and angels. These elements reflect the cultural and religious identity of the working-class communities it served, providing a familiar and comforting environment for Catholic immigrants with many inscriptions noting birthplaces and death places.
Notable burials
Calvary Cemetery is the final resting place for a diverse array of notable figures who've left their mark on New York City's history.
photo by Ronzoni / CC 3.0
The cemetery is also known for its mobster graves, though many are unmarked.
Not all mobsters were granted full Catholic burial rites. In some cases, the Church has denied Catholic funerals to infamous criminals.
John Gotti, a notorious mob boss, was denied a funeral Mass by the Diocese of Brooklyn in 2002. However, he was still allowed to be buried in St. John's Cemetery in Queens.
The Catholic church denied funeral Masses to notorious gangsters Paul Castellano, Carmine Galante, and Frank DeCicco (Gotti's underboss).
Non-Catholics can be buried at Calvary Cemetery. All faiths are welcome to be buried here.
Overall, Calvary Cemetery stands out as a testament to the lives of ordinary New Yorkers who built the city, rather than a showcase of elaborate memorials to the elite.
Outstanding monuments
Calvary Cemetery may lack an overabundance of monuments and memorials to the rich, but It is home to some outstanding monuments that reflect its rich history and cultural significance.
The Calvary Monument was erected in 1866 to honor Civil War veterans and is located in the center of Calvary. It features a 50-foot granite obelisk decorated with bronze garlands and flags and the bronze figure on top represents peace.
The St. Calixtus Chapel was built in 1908, replacing an original frame structure. Raymond F. Almirall designed the chapel in limestone with bas-relief carvings and a granite statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Mass is still held here on Saturdays and is open to the public. This chapel is more ornate than the Hotchkiss Chapel at Bellefontaine Cemetery.
Paranormal Tales & Legends
Calvary with its vast expanse and long history, has become the subject of various paranormal tales and ghostly legends over the years. While not as famous for hauntings as some other cemeteries, Calvary has its share of eerie stories that add to its mystique.
Visitors have reported feeling unexplained cold spots throughout the cemetery, even on warm days. These sudden temperature drops are often associated with paranormal activity in ghost-hunting lore. Some claim to have heard whispers or seen fleeting shadows among the tombstones, particularly in the older sections of the cemetery.
The sheer number of interments at Calvary – over 3 million – has led some to believe that the cemetery is a hotspot for spiritual energy. Psychics and mediums have claimed to sense a strong presence of spirits, especially around the graves of those who died young or in tragic circumstances.
During the influenza and tuberculosis epidemics of the early 20th century, when gravediggers were in short supply, people often had to dig graves for their own loved ones. Some visitors claim to have seen ghostly figures engaged in the act of digging, perhaps echoes of this somber time in the cemetery's history.
While many of these tales remain unverified, they continue to captivate the imagination of visitors and add an extra layer of intrigue to Calvary Cemetery's already rich history.
Visiting the Calvary Cemetery
The cemetery does not offer official tours, but regular masses at St. Calixtus Chapel are held every Saturday at 9:30 a.m.
Other organizations have offered tours but I wasn’t able to find any currently being offered. If I find any tours I will update this post.
Calvary Cemetery is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Weekdays are much quieter and less crowded than weekends.
photo by jim.henderson / CC 4.0
The cemetery features rolling hills and natural surfaces, so wear comfortable shoes for walking.
If you have mobility issues, be aware that some areas may be challenging to navigate due to uneven terrain.
Dogs are not allowed at the cemetery. Service dogs are an exception.
Bring water and snacks to help fuel you through this huge cemetery.
Bring your camera to capture the stunning views of the Manhattan skyline from within the cemetery.
photo by 3jo7 / CC 4.0
Calvary Cemetery reflects the rich history of New York City, particularly its immigrant and working-class communities.
The simpler graves may not be as pretty as more elite burial grounds, but they share a much richer story of the working-class heritage that built NY and the US.
Many Americans today can trace their family history to this city of the dead.
Have you visited Calvary Cemetery? What's your favorite cemetery? Drop me a message! And don't forget to subscribe to the Spooky Traveling newsletter to keep up to date on the latest dark adventure. Stay weird, Spooky friend!
