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The distinctive dome-shaped hills scattered throughout Fort Hill Cemetery were formed ten thousand years ago when receding glaciers deposited debris in piles. Centuries later, these dunes are covered with topsoil that supports the growth of trees and foliage. The result is an atmosphere reverberant with magic. This ambiance was felt by the area's many settlers, from the ancient culture of Mound Builders to the the Cayuga nation of the Iroquois Confederacy and even the descendants of the European settlers who pushed out the Cayugas and decided to use the land as a cemetery, to preserve its wild and majestic beauty. Judge Elijah Miller, William H. Seward's father-in-law, was instrumental in making that happen-and was the first person to be buried there. The influence of the site's mysticism is not limited to human perception. Tens of thousands of crows convene there from fall through spring for orientation to urban survival. It is as though Fort Hill is the Ellis Island for the corvine population. Before the crows arrive for their wintry bivouac, the monarch butterflies converge in early fall to perform their ritual aerial ballet in preparation for the migratory journey to the Yucatan.

For the past 162 years, historic Cypress Hills Cemetery has quietly served thousands of New Yorkers and the public at large. This place of eternal rest obtained the distinct honor of being the first rural cemetery in Greater New York to be organized under the Rural Cemetery Act of 1847. Cypress Hills provides a perfect balance of lush landscaping, funerary art and sculpture, and a final resting place for some of America's most notable figures, such as Jackie Robinson, Mae West, and Eubie Blake. Carved on countless headstones are mysterious markings and secretive symbols that the living can ponder. Cypress Hills Cemetery illustrates and demystifies the various legends of those interred in these hallowed grounds.

To better appreciate the beginnings of the North Fork, the best place to start is in the ancient burial grounds that dot the East End. These beautiful sites tell the tale of northeastern Long Island's early history, preserved in stone. The names that appear--Booth, Conklyn, Corwin, Fanning, Hallock, Latham, Terry, Tuthill, Wickham, Youngs--read like a who's who of the North Fork.

Maple Grove Cemetery, a rural Victorian cemetery located on the backbone of Long Island," opened in 1875. Found within this tranquil sanctuary are extraordinary monuments with lush landscaping that continues to offer a serene escape from New York City. Beyond its gates are the resting places of those who left their mark on the world. Maple Grove Cemetery features the fascinating stories of such noteworthy individuals as Millie Tunnell, former 111-year-old slave; Ann Wilkins, one of the first female missionaries to Africa; John Sutphin, Queens politician and philanthropist; Samuel Loyd, America's puzzle king; Charles Manly, aviation pioneer; Alfred Grebe, radio and broadcast pioneer; Elisabeth Riis, wife of social reformer Jacob Riis; Russian pianists Josef and Rosina Lhevinne; and Blues singer Jimmy Rushing. The cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004."

South Fork Cemeteries offers a historical tour of the southern stretch of the East End, from Southampton to Montauk. This leisurely stroll reveals not only ancient burial grounds filled with beautifully engraved slate and sandstone markers but also onshore whaling, famous shipwrecks, and fascinating people. The stones introduce the forefathers and their followers who lie in quiet resting places; the author fills in the biographical detail of the common and the famous, including whalers such as Capt. Mercator Cooper, who visited Japan before Commodore Perry did; writers such as P. G. Wodehouse, who created the unforgettable Jeeves; and artists such as Jackson Pollock, whose medium was house paint.