Social & Cultural Activities

Wear comfortable walking sneakers or shoes because we will be walking.

Trolleys will be available to ride back to the Jerome Avenue entrance of the cemetery.

Sunday, May 26th @ 10 am (rain or shine)

Meet at 9:15 am at the Jerome Avenue entrance of the cemetery (see directions below) for transport to the tour start point.

The tour lasts for about an hour and a half.

$25

1. Take the #4 Line heading North towards Jerome Ave/Woodlawn Bronx
2. Get off the #4 Line at Jerome Ave/Woodlawn Bronx (last stop)
3. Walk North toward the cemetery, in the direction of East 233rd Street. (You should be walking away from the train line and should not see the train above.) The entrance and security booth are on the right side of Jerome Avenue. Use the Jerome Ave entrance of the Woodlawn Cemetery (do not use the entrance at Webster Ave).

Woodlawn honors the musicians, composers and producers who created jazz, “America’s Music.” At the dawn of the Jazz Age and the beginning of the Harlem Renaissance, the Woodlawn Subway Station opened, connecting the cemetery to most of the city. With a tradition of caring for the diverse New York population, the families of many of the musicians and performers turned to Woodlawn in their time of need. In the southwest section of our grounds, the pioneers of jazz, King Oliver, WC Handy and members of the James Reese Europe band are remembered. Sculptures, granite grave markers and marble monuments commemorate the lives of the great performers of the era, Florence Mills, Irene and Vernon Castle and Bert Williams. Each year, thousands of visitors go to Woodlawn’s “Jazz Corner,” where the maestro, Duke Ellington, is at rest. Nearby, visitors find Miles Davis’ song “Solar” etched on his memorial. High on the neighboring hill, etched in black granite, there is an image of Jackie McLean playing the saxophone. Nearby stands a monument where swing dancer Frankie Manning performs the Lindy Hop. Be Bop drummer Max Roach is honored with a poem and Lionel Hampton, “King of the Vibes”, is “Flying Home.” The Woodlawn Cemetery is known internationally for its jazz legacy. As the flowers of spring unfold, we pay tribute to those who changed our lives and taught us how to swing.  Source: Woodlawn Cemetery

A FREE to all walking tour – This self-guided tour of Harlem will last about two hours as we take in the sights and rich history of this jazz Mecca. There will be a Welcome to Harlem by Barbara Adeola Grant and a short talk with Denise Minns-Harris.

Wear comfortable walking sneakers or shoes because we will be walking.

Monday, May 27th @ 10:00 am – 12:00 am

Meet at 9:30 am at the Savoy Plaque in Harlem (see directions above).

596 Lenox Avenue, New York, NY 10037

Free

Download this PDF for an incredible insight into the rich history at each stop along the tour!