Prospect Cemetery
National Register of Historic Places

Prospect Cemetery

Jamaica, Queens County, New York
Listed
January 11, 2002
Type
Site
Period
Colonial
Ref No.
01001438

About this property

Prospect Cemetery is a historic cemetery located in the Jamaica section of the New York City borough of Queens. It was established in 1668 and known as the "burring plas." The cemetery's original main gate was on Beaver Road which led from Sutphin Boulevard to Jamaica Avenue. The cemetery was generally known as the Presbyterian burial ground and is one of the few remaining Colonial cemeteries in Queens. The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission has designated the cemetery as an official city landmark, stating that Prospect Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in New York and that it is regarded as a place of great historical and aesthetic interest, as well as one of the city's important cultural locations. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

Location

159th St. and Beaver Rd.
Jamaica, Queens County, New York
40.70133, -73.79992

Categories

EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENTART
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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Everything a full report reveals about Prospect Cemetery

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Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

First Reformed Church
Industrial
0.1 mi
St. Monica's Church
Industrial
0.1 mi
Office of the Register
Industrial
0.2 mi
Jamaica Savings Bank
Industrial
0.2 mi
Sidewalk Clock at 161-11 Jamaica Avenue, New York, NY
Listed
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Long Island — Flanking at Jamaica Pass
1776Revolutionary War
6.4 mi
Battle of Long Island/Brooklyn Heights Aug 27 1776
1776Revolutionary War
8.3 mi
Battle of Long Island — Gowanus Heights
1776Revolutionary War
8.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Prospect Cemetery listed on the National Register?

Prospect Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 11, 2002.

What type of historic resource is Prospect Cemetery?

Prospect Cemetery is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Prospect Cemetery?

The period of significance for Prospect Cemetery is recorded as the colonial era, specifically around 1668.

Can I research the history near Prospect Cemetery?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Prospect Cemetery will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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