National Register of Historic Places

First Shearith Israel Graveyard

New York, New York County, New York
Listed
April 16, 1980
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
80002689

About this property

First Shearith Israel Graveyard, also known as Chatham Square Cemetery, is a tiny Jewish graveyard located in the Two Bridges neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City. It is the oldest of three Manhattan graveyards currently maintained by Congregation Shearith Israel (Hebrew, "Remnant of Israel"), which is itself the oldest Jewish congregation in North America. (The Congregation was formed by Spanish and Portuguese Sephardic Jewish immigrants in 1654.) Today, the cemetery is a mere fragment of its original extent. Only about a hundred headstones and aboveground tombs can still be seen in what remains of the old burial ground, which rises slightly above street level. It is the only remaining 17th-century structure in Manhattan.

Location

55-57 St. James Pl.
New York, New York County, New York
40.71284, -73.99838

Categories

COMMERCEMILITARYEDUCATIONPOLITICS/GOVERNMENTRELIGION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Nearby Historic Sites

Mariner's Temple
Industrial
0 mi
Smith, Alfred E., House
Industrial
0 mi
St. James Church
Industrial
0 mi
Mooney, Edward, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Church of the Transfiguration
Industrial
0.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was First Shearith Israel Graveyard listed on the National Register?

First Shearith Israel Graveyard was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 16, 1980.

What type of historic resource is First Shearith Israel Graveyard?

First Shearith Israel Graveyard is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for First Shearith Israel Graveyard?

The period of significance for First Shearith Israel Graveyard is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near First Shearith Israel Graveyard?

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