MANSI SHAH

Green-Wood Cemetery was founded in 1838 as one of America’s first rural cemeteries. The hallowed grounds have witnessed a Civil War, two World Wars, and many cycles of birth and death in New York City. Today, Green-Wood remains an active cemetery and also serves as an arboretum, home to a living body of trees, fungi, and animal wildlife. The cemetery is a crucial green space for the neighborhood where it is located. During the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, the cemetery was an outdoor refuge for the neighborhood’s isolated residents, while simultaneously serving as a solemn reminder of human mortality.