Green-Wood cemetery is many things: the eternal resting place for over 570,000 people, an arboretum, a Revolutionary War battle site, a bird sanctuary, an art and performance venue, a community space, and, I would argue, a library. One popular gravestone motif over the course of Green-Wood’s 183 year history is the form of a book, usually symbolizing the bible or the Book of Life. Whether or not the religious background is of interest to contemporary visitors, many of these grave markers are endearing sculptural works and landmarks for bibliophiles amidst the cemetery’s angels, obelisks, and nondescript headstones. Check out a book or two, ranked here based on style, content, and my completely non-objective opinions.
Read moreA Definitive Ranking of Book-Shaped Gravestones in Green-Wood Cemetery
Arthur Tappan Pierson (March 6, 1837-June 3, 1911)