Is there a graveyard under Washington Square Park?
There were also several church burial grounds located in the northeast section of the park. “Today we honor these individuals and acknowledge Washington Square Park’s history as a final resting place for thousands of early New Yorkers,” NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver said in a press release.
Are there dead bodies under Washington Square Park?
The human remains were uncovered during construction in and around Washington Square Park between 2008 and 2017. Washington Square Park was constructed in the 1850s at the site of the City’s former potter’s field.
Who is buried under Washington Square Park?
As part of the city’s proposal, a 2 by 4 plaque marking the site reads in part… “From 1797 until 1825, what is now Washington Square Park was the city’s Potter’s field, where the unidentified, the indigent, and after 1799, anyone who died of yellow fever were buried.”
Why are there bodies under Washington Square Park?
Washington Square Park Was Once a Potter’s Field It is believed that up to 20,000 people were buried under the close to 10-acre stretch and remain there — except, of course, for the bones, skeletons and tombstones dug up during the controversial years-long redesign of this downtown park.
What was in Washington Square before the park?
Centuries before there was a park, Indians of the Lenape tribe knew the site as a marshy ground with abundant waterfowl and a fine trout stream called Minetta (long buried). In 1624, the Dutch West India Company established a trading outpost at the southern tip of Manhattan.
What is Washington Square Park famous for?
This text is part of Parks’ Historical Signs Project and can be found posted within the park. Washington Square Park is named for George Washington (1732-1799), the commander of the Continental Army, who was inaugurated in New York City as the first President of the United States on April 30, 1789.
Is Washington Square Park Safe?
Iconic Greenwich Village park has become hot spot for crime According to the available crime data from the New York Police Department’s 6th Precinct as of July 28, 2021, which includes Washington Square Park, rapes, robberies and felony assaults are up 100%, 42.4% and 10% year-to-date, respectively.
Why is Potter’s Field called that?
Prior to Akeldama’s use as a burial ground, it had been a site where potters collected high-quality, deeply red clay for the production of ceramics, thus the name potters’ field.
How many bodies are in Washington Square Park?
20,000 bodies
However, the cemetery was closed in 1825. To this day, the remains of more than 20,000 bodies rest under Washington Square. Excavations have found tombstones under the park dating as far back as 1799.
Is Washington park NYC safe?
Why is Washington Square Park famous?
Cultural importance. Washington Square has long been a hub for politics and culture in New York City. The first neighborhood organization established in New York City was created in support of the park.