This is a brand-new tour and we couldn’t be more excited!
Be enchanted by Oakwood under the stars in a winter wonderland. Stroll through a luminary-lit path to the hot chocolate stop at the beautiful Warren Chapel, where we will enjoy festive jingles
We’ll meet at the Earl Chapel.
Register HERE.
Fans of The Gilded Age series will love the castle-like Earl Chapel (complete with gargoyle!)
This National Historic Landmark has an interior of breathtaking Victorian splendor, including spectacular Tiffany and Matland stained-glass windows, marble mosaics, and oak and stone carvings.
Heidi Klinowski will lead two tours, sharing the story of the young man who inspired this gorgeous building.
DON’T DELAY, AS THESE TOURS WILL SELL OUT!
Both tours will be offered Nov. 30.
Register for our 1pm tour HERE.
Register for our 2:30pm tour HERE.
$10pp/children under 12 free. Limited to 30 participants per tour.
Geralyn and Michael O’Reilly, certified sound meditation practitioners, use sound as a vehicle to promote deep relaxation, offering many health benefits.
Join the Friends of Oakwood as we kick off our 2024 tour season with this first of five Sound Meditation sessions.
Sessions are scheduled for:
Nov. 20 | 6pm-7pm
The cost is $30pp, per session. Bring a mat, cushions, a blanket, or anything to make you feel cozy as you immerse yourself in the sounds from the Earl Chapel’s amazing acoustics.
Register HERE.
Geralyn and Michael O’Reilly, certified sound meditation practitioners, use sound as a vehicle to promote deep relaxation, offering many health benefits.
Join the Friends of Oakwood as we kick off our 2024 tour season with this first of five Sound Meditation sessions.
Sessions are scheduled for:
Sept. 18 | 6pm-7pm
Nov. 20 | 6pm-7pm
The cost is $30pp, per session. Bring a mat, cushions, a blanket, or anything to make you feel cozy as you immerse yourself in the sounds from the Earl Chapel’s amazing acoustics.
Register HERE.
Be sure to clue in on the fun on this scavenger hunt. Pick up your hunt instructions between 5pm-6pm at the Earl Chapel, where your start time will be recorded. All entries must be turned in by
7:30.pm Hunt on your own or form a team of up to 4 people.
Prizes will be awarded to the individual and team with the most correct answers in the quickest time. Ties will be broken by drawing.
Register HERE.
Hear fascinating stories from veteran tour guide Heidi Klinowski as we visit the monuments of Troy’s movers and shakers, war veterans, educators, inventors, and more. The grave of “Uncle Sam” and the panoramic overlook at sunset are included highlights.
Meet at the Cemetery flagpole. Be sure to bring a flashlight and wear comfortable shoes!
Register here.
Bring the kids to this ANNUAL family-friendly concert with the Colonie Town band!
They’ll help conduct the music! This event is fun for all.
Geralyn and Michael O’Reilly, certified sound meditation practitioners, use sound as a vehicle to promote deep relaxation, offering many health benefits.
Join the Friends of Oakwood as we kick off our 2024 tour season with this first of five Sound Meditation sessions.
Sessions are scheduled for:
July 24 | 6pm-7pm ** PLEASE NOTE THE DATE CHANGE!
Sept. 18 | 6pm-7pm
Nov. 20 | 6pm-7pm
The cost is $30pp, per session. Bring a mat, cushions, a blanket, or anything to make you feel cozy as you immerse yourself in the sounds from the Earl Chapel’s amazing acoustics.
Register HERE.
The Gilded Age was a time of tremendous industrialization and rapid economic growth, especially in Troy, NY. As you sip champagne at the Lookout, you'll meet some of Troy's elite who shaped our country with their ambitious visions and amassed sizable fortunes.
This tour is hosted by Kathy Sheehan, Troy City Historian and consultant to the acclaimed HBO series, The Gilded Age, much of which is filmed in Troy, NY, including scenes at the Cemetery.
Only a limited number of tickets will be sold for this unique event. Ages 21 and up only.
Meet at the Oakwood Cemetery Flagpole.
The fee for this special tour is $30/pp.
Register HERE.
This wide-ranging, constantly changing walking tour covers the history of the rural cemetery movement and many sites and families that are only sometimes included in other tours.
Host Michael Barrett, Emeritus Executive Director of the Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway, always has something new to add!
Bring a flashlight and wear comfortable shoes. The tour meets at the Cemetery flagpole.
Register HERE.
Hosted by noted historian Michael Barrett, this not-so-well-known area of the cemetery contains a number of important people and families who were instrumental in the later phase in Troy's incredible history. Come meet educators, industrialists, inventors, brewers, and more.
Register here.
Flagpole Meetup
All levels, including beginners, are welcome on this annual Rite of Spring and easy stroll, exploring a variety of habitats, led by our Friends of Oakwood Volunteer and life member of the Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club. We'll look for returning migrants like the Oriole and Indigo Bunting and keep an eye (and ear) out for regulars like Bluebirds, Red-Tailed Hawk, and maybe a Bald Eagle.
Bring binoculars and wear sturdy shoes. A few loaner binoculars may be available.
The cost for this walk is $15pp.
Meet at the Oakwood Cemetery Flagpole
This tour is led by Heidi Klinowski, Friends of Oakwood Volunteer and life member of the Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club.
Register HERE.
The Warren Chapel, built in 1860, is a stone church built in the English-country Gothic style, designed by noted architect Henry Dudley of New York. It has a nave, cross-transept plan, lancet windows, and a recessed pointed-arch entrance with a small rosette above. Here's your chance to catch a rare glimpse inside this fascinating structure.
Oakwood Cemetery and Friend of Oakwood Cemetery Christie Fronhofer hosts the open house.
The cost for the open house is $10.00 pp.
Enjoy the beauty of the Cemetery's Gardner Earl Chapel and its excellent acoustics as you listen to seasonal songs by the Highlight Acting Troupe. Sing along with your favorites. Then enjoy cocoa and cookies as we await the arrival of a surprise visitor!
$10.pp, children under 12 free, by advanced registration ONLY and limited to 30 participants per tour.
The Friends of Oakwood Cemetery will offer guided tours of the Gardner Earl Memorial Chapel at 1pm and 2:30pm on Saturday, November 25.
If you are a fan of The Gilded Age series, you will love the castle-like Earl Chapel. It is a National Historic Landmark, with an interior of breathtaking Victorian splendor, including spectacular stained-glass windows, marble mosaics, and oak and stone carvings. See if you can find the carved cherub faces.
Friends volunteer Heidi Klinowski will tell the brief story of the young man who inspired this gorgeous building, and you’ll see why it is a popular venue for intimate weddings as well as social events, memorials, and funerals. You’ll even have the option to take a peek into one of the old cremation retorts!
Each tour will be limited to 30 people at $10. per person, Children under 12 are free. Advanced payment is required to hold your reservation. Mail or bring your check (payable to the Friends of Oakwood) to the Oakwood office 50 – 101 st St. Troy, NY 12180 OR call 518-328-0090, and we will call you back for credit card information. Do NOT leave card information in your phone message. Please leave the following: desired tour time, name, phone, email, and number of people.
Oakwood memorabilia will be available for purchase by cash or check. You can get our awesome gargoyle keyring for just $12. Our beautiful 2024 Calendar “Secrets of Oakwood Cemetery” makes a unique holiday gift at $20.each.
For Google map directions use 186 Oakwood Avenue, Troy. The Oakwood Avenue (Route 40) entrance is a short drive from Route 7 East (Hoosick Street) in Troy.
The Friends of Oakwood is a non-profit volunteer group working to support the preservation and maintenance of the non-sectarian chapel and grounds of this still-active historic 19th C. cemetery. The non-denominational chapel is handicapped-accessible.
$10.pp, children under 12 free, by advanced registration ONLY and limited to 30 participants per tour.
The Friends of Oakwood Cemetery will offer guided tours of the Gardner Earl Memorial Chapel at 1pm and 2:30pm on Saturday, November 25.
If you are a fan of The Gilded Age series, you will love the castle-like Earl Chapel. It is a National Historic Landmark, with an interior of breathtaking Victorian splendor, including spectacular stained-glass windows, marble mosaics, and oak and stone carvings. See if you can find the carved cherub faces.
Friends volunteer Heidi Klinowski will tell the brief story of the young man who inspired this gorgeous building, and you’ll see why it is a popular venue for intimate weddings as well as social events, memorials, and funerals. You’ll even have the option to take a peek into one of the old cremation retorts!
Each tour will be limited to 30 people at $10. per person, Children under 12 are free. Advanced payment is required to hold your reservation. Mail or bring your check (payable to the Friends of Oakwood) to the Oakwood office 50 – 101 st St. Troy, NY 12180 OR call 518-328-0090, and we will call you back for credit card information. Do NOT leave card information in your phone message. Please leave the following: desired tour time, name, phone, email, and number of people.
Oakwood memorabilia will be available for purchase by cash or check. You can get our awesome gargoyle keyring for just $12. Our beautiful 2024 Calendar “Secrets of Oakwood Cemetery” makes a unique holiday gift at $20.each.
For Google map directions use 186 Oakwood Avenue, Troy. The Oakwood Avenue (Route 40) entrance is a short drive from Route 7 East (Hoosick Street) in Troy.
The Friends of Oakwood is a non-profit volunteer group working to support the preservation and maintenance of the non-sectarian chapel and grounds of this still-active historic 19th C. cemetery. The non-denominational chapel is handicapped-accessible.
Our first Sound Meditation session was such a hit we are bringing it back! Join us for a special session in the Historic Earl Chapel on Saturday, Nov. 18, from 12:00-1:00. You must register in advance for this session. Please pre-pay/register by calling the Oakwood Cemetery office at 518-328-0090. The cost per person is $30.
Bring a mat, cushions, a blanket, or anything to make you feel cozy as you immerse yourself in the sounds from the Chapel’s amazing acoustics.
Be sure to register soon - this will be a sell-out!
We'll tour the resting places of Lansingburgh's pre-Revolutionary War founding family, as well as the business people, brush makers, boat builders, brewers, and more who made Lansingburgh an early commercial powerhouse. Many remain in the Village Burial Ground, but many prominent families choose to move into Oakwood after its establishment in 1850.
Led by Heidi Klinowski, member of Friends of Oakwood Cemetery
In the early evening, we’ll listen to remarkable stories as we visit the lovely monuments of Oakwood’s interesting residents. The grave of Uncle Sam and the panoramic overlook at sunset are tour highlights. We'll hope for great views! Bring a flashlight.
What could be better than sound meditation? Enjoyuibng it in the acoustically perfect Earl Chapel at Oakwood Cemetery.
Space is limited. Reserve your spot today.
What is Sound Meditation?
Sound meditation is very similar to Yoga Nidra/Deep Relaxation; it is a form of meditation that uses sound as a vehicle to promote deep relaxation and has many health benefits (see below). Sound meditation can be experienced by lying on a mat, sitting in a chair, or in any position that is comfortable.
Health Benefits of Sound Meditation
Lowers blood pressure
Reduces stress
Improves sleep
Helps relieve chronic pain
Relieves anxiety
Promotes balance
Improves energy
Promotes inner harmony
Enhances clarity
Balances the chakras
Promotes inner peace
Promotes a sense of well-being
What do I bring?
Mat, Blanket, Pillow(s)-and or any props that will help you comfortably relax, Eye pillow, if you would like, and a Bottle of water
Register at 518-328-0090. The cost for this session is $30/pp.
Geralyn and Michael O'Reilly studied Sound Meditation in Sedona, AZ earned certifications to lead sound baths and meditations and provide vibrational therapy.
Led by our highly entertaining guide, this will be a combination walking/driving tour to learn about the families who built these gorgeous resting places. We'll take a peek inside some of these beautiful memorials. Limited to 25 ppl
When Civil War Union General George Thomas was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, President Ulysses S. Grant attended the ceremonies. During the war, Grant had been Thomas’ Commander, and he knew that Thomas’ status as a hero was well-deserved.
For 14 years, Steve Trimm has been a tour guide at Grant Cottage, the State Historic Site in Saratoga County where U.S. Grant passed away in 1885. During that time, he also presented “ living history“ portrayals of Grant the General and President.
Please join Steve when, as President Grant, he shares his memories of his comrade-in-arms George Thomas.
Register at 518-328-0090. Cost is $20/pp. Under 12 free.
See this rare second full moon of the month!
In the early evening, we’ll listen to remarkable stories as we visit the lovely monuments of Oakwood’s interesting residents. The grave of Uncle Sam and the panoramic overlook at sunset are tour highlights. We'll hope for great views! Bring a flashlight.
In this special first-person account, Steve Trimm, a skilled historic tour guide, delivers a moving talk of the life of his uncle Ray Gantter. Gantter is the author of one of the most recognized accounts of WW2, considered must-read materials for scholars of the Second World War.
It was September 1944 when Pvt. Ray Gantter joined his new unit on the Belgian-German border. Along that front, things had been so quiet - and for so long - that the old-timers were sure the war would be over by Christmas. A week later, the Battle of the Bulge exploded and Ray and his new buddies were sucked into the center of the horror.
When the Nazi’s offensive was stopped, the Allied invasion of Germany began. Ray and his comrades would be in the thick of that epic struggle, too.
Ray Gantter began his service as an enlisted man. By the time he was discharged, he was a Lieutenant. That simple statement speaks volumes about Ray’s competence as a warrior, his ability as a battlefield leader, and his personal courage.
After the war, like most veterans, Ray couldn’t talk about what he’d been through. But unlike most vets, he could write about. To his surprise, he had an extraordinary gift for writing, and his book, Roll Me Over: An Infantryman’s World War, became a classic of World War II literature.
Ray’s nephew Steve Trimm will read excerpts from the book and talk about the Ray Gantter he knew.
Register at 518-328-0090. Cost is $20/pp. Under 12 free.
Put on your top hat and cinch your corset as you join for a “The Gilded Age” walk through Oakwood. Kathy will highlight new stories of the final resting places of Troy’s “old” and “new” moneyed residents who made their mark in the city and Rensselaer County. Kathy will also share about the filming of the Gilded Age at Oakwood as well as in downtown Troy.
With the Colonie Town Band - A FREE Concert
The band will perform a lively program so bring your chair or blankets and claim a spot on the lawn in front of the Earl Chapel. Parents - Bring your cameras! Children will have the exciting opportunity to conduct the 60-piece band’s final march. Registration is not required, however, please note that the concert will be canceled in the event of rain. Please use the Oakwood Avenue entrance to attend.
Troy is known for its many breweries in its long history. Join Kathy Sheehan as we highlight some of the well-known and not-so-famous brewers and bar owners buried in Oakwood, and hear some of the more “colorful” stories attached to the industry! A beer tasting is included!
Oakwood Cemetery contains over 80 war dead burials including several from the Battle of Gettysburg. There are also dozens of wounded men who came home and lived out their lives locally.
Come hear a number of stirring human-interest stories about the men who saved the Union during this 160th anniversary year of that climactic battle.
While Oakwood may be known for its Civil War veterans, at least 30 veterans of the American Revolution are also interred in Oakwood. One was a confidant of Aaron Burr; another a friend of President Martin Van Buren; and yet a third was a double agent. Along with stories of these amazing men, a plan to preserve the graves of all these veterans will be revealed.
Oakwood has some spectacular examples of the art of the Celtic cross, which are said to be pillars linking heaven and earth. Join us for this walk/drive while examining the history and symbolism of these ancient-style memorial stones.
