Green-Wood Commemorates 250th Anniversary of The Boston Tea Party

On the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, Saturday, December 16, 2023, The Green-Wood Cemetery will honor the legacy of Ebenezer Stevens, the sole participant of the historic event buried in New York City. Presented in partnership with the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum and Revolution 250, a consortium of organizations working together to commemorate the 250th anniversaries of the events that led to the American Revolution, the commemorative event will pay tribute to Stevens' pivotal role in American history.

On December 16th, 250 years ago, American colonists dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor in protest of taxes imposed by Great Britain. This act of defiance was a significant turning point that helped to trigger the American Revolution.

In commemoration of what became known as the Boston Tea Party, participants will walk in a procession, led by the Color Guard of the Sons of the American Revolution and accompanied by a drummer and a fifer, from Green-Wood's Main Entrance Arch to the grave of Ebenezer Stevens.

Stevens was the only participant of the Boston Tea Party interred in New York City and commanded the triumphant Continental Artillery at the Revolutionary War Battles of Saratoga and Yorktown.

In honor of Stevens’ bravery, organizers will unveil a commemorative marker at his gravesite, accompanied by music and musket volleys, part of an initiative of the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. Participants also will unveil a second medallion provided by the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR).

Green-Wood Historian Jeff Richman will offer remarks on the life and legacy of Ebenezer Stevens and Historian Barnet Schecter will speak on the historical importance of the Boston Tea Party.

The image depicted on the commemorative marker is inspired by the 1846 lithograph, The Destruction of the Tea at Boston Harbor, a popular and often used artistic representation of the historical event, by Nathaniel Currier (who is interred at Green-Wood).

“As we mark the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, we celebrate the remarkable legacy of Ebenezer Stevens, whose pivotal role in the birth of our nation has been eclipsed by other historical narratives,” Jeff Richman said. “This commemorative ceremony will provide a unique opportunity not only to pay homage to Stevens but to collectively revisit a defining moment when American colonists bravely took a stand against unjust taxation, propelling us toward the American Revolution.”

This event is free and open to the public. No registration is necessary. Attendees should meet at Green-Wood’s Gothic Arch, just inside the Main Entrance at 25th Street and Fifth Avenue in Sunset Park.

Full details about the event can be found here.

What: Commemorative event to pay tribute to Ebenezer Stevens' pivotal role in the Boston Tea Party; Procession from Green-Wood's Main Entrance Arch to Stevens’ grave, featuring a drummer, a fifer, and re-enactors in uniform; Unveiling of a commemorative marker at Stevens' gravesite; Musical performances and musket volleys in honor of Stevens' bravery.

When: Saturday, December 16, 2023; 3:00 to 4:00pm.

Where: The Green-Wood Cemetery, 500 25th Street, Brooklyn; meet at the Gothic Arch near the Main Entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street.

Who: Green-Wood Historian Jeff Richman and Historian Barnet Schecter

For Your Safety: We strongly encourage attendees to wear suitable footwear. The procession route covers about 2/3 of a mile, with some uphill walking and no breaks.

About Green-Wood: Established in 1838, The Green-Wood Cemetery, a National Historic Landmark, is recognized as one of the world’s most beautiful cemeteries. As the permanent residence of over 570,000 individuals, Green-Wood’s magnificent grounds, grand architecture, and world-class statuary have made it a destination for half a million visitors annually, including national and international tourists, New Yorkers, and Brooklynites. At the same time, Green-Wood is also an outdoor museum, an arboretum, and a repository of history. Throughout the year, it offers innovative programs in arts and culture, nature and the environment, education, workforce development, restoration, and research, as well as bold initiatives in climate resiliency and sustainability. For more information, please visit www.green-wood.com.

About The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum: The Boston Tea Party, the single most important event leading up to the American Revolution, occurred the night of December 16, 1773. The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, owned and operated by Historic Tours of America, is dedicated to accurately reliving and representing a key time in history (1773-1775) through actors, tea-throwing reenactments, high-tech interactive exhibits, authentic replica ships, the Beaver and the Eleanor, and an award-winning multisensory film, Let it Begin Here. The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum is open 7 day/week from 10:00am - 5:00pm (Summer/Spring) and from 10:00am - 4:00pm (Fall/Winter). Tours run every 30 minutes in the fall/winter and every 15 minutes in the spring/summer and last 1 hr. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum was voted #1 ‘Best Patriotic Attraction’ in USA Today’s ‘10Best Readers' Choice Awards 2016’; voted ‘Best New Museum’ in 2012 by Yankee magazine and ‘Best of the New 2012’ by Boston Globe Magazine. To learn more visit www.bostonteapartyship.com or call 1-855-(TEA)-1773. The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum is located at 306 Congress St. on the Congress St. Bridge, Boston, MA 02210, over the same body of water where The Boston Tea Party took place.

About Revolution 250: Revolution 250 is a consortium of more than 70 organizations and individuals who are connected by the belief of the value in learning about, examining, and commemorating the history of the American Revolution. Revolution 250 will commemorate the 250th anniversaries of significant people, places and events that led to the American Revolution and the creation of such founding documents as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. These anniversaries will be integral in engaging public interest and garnering public appreciation for the pivotal role Massachusetts played in securing the independence creation of the United States of America. For more information, visit www.revolution250.org.