Over one million souls rest on Hart Island. Their families deserve access. Their graves deserve protection. Their stories deserve to be told. Join the fight for landmark status and accountability.
We're fighting on three fronts to ensure dignity, access, and protection for Hart Island and the families who deserve to remember their loved ones.
Legal protection to prevent destruction and ensure historic preservation.
Expanded visitation rights and dignified conditions for those honoring loved ones.
Accountable management with family voices at the table.
For over 150 years, Hart Island has been the final resting place for New York City's most vulnerable:
Each burial tells a story of New York's struggles, resilience, and forgotten communities.
Landmark designation provides legal protection that ensures Hart Island cannot be destroyed, sold, or significantly altered without rigorous review and public input.
Without it, the island remains vulnerable to:
Landmark status would secure permanent protections while honoring the cultural and historical significance of America's largest public cemetery.
Support Landmark StatusEvery person buried on Hart Island had a life, a story, and people who loved them. Hear from the families fighting to honor their memory and secure justice.
Current city plans lack clear protections and exclude families from decision-making. We're demanding accountable oversight that centers dignity and transparency.
Your voice matters. Whether you sign the petition, share our mission, donate, or attend an event — every action brings us closer to securing landmark status and dignified oversight for Hart Island.
Together, we can ensure every life is remembered with dignity.
