Grave Robbers of New York: Exploring the City's Body Snatching History

New York Adventure Club | www.AdventureClub.com For centuries, New York’s graveyards weren’t always the final resting places they were intended to be. From medical students stealing freshly buried corpses to grave robbers holding a millionaire’s remains for ransom, the city has witnessed some truly bizarre cases of body snatching. It's time to hit the streets and unearth a side of macabre New York history like never before. Join New York Adventure Club as we embark on a journey through Lower Manhattan exploring more than two centuries of body snatching, grave robbing, and missing remains. Led by licensed NYC tour guide James Henry, who specializes in the cemeteries and burial spaces of New York City, our unique experience will include: • A visit to Trinity Churchyard to uncover how 18th-century “resurrection men” raided graves for medical cadavers, helping spark the violent Doctors’ Riot of 1788 • A walk through Zuccotti Park to hear the grim fate of a notorious pirate who was executed and later subjected to the surgeon’s knife • A stop at St. Paul’s Chapel and City Hall Park to hear the tale of an actor whose skull was allegedly stolen from his grave • The bizarre story of department store magnate A.T. Stewart whose remains were stolen and held for ransom following his death • A visit to the African Burial Ground National Monument and Foley Square to learn how the graves of enslaved and free Black New Yorkers were targeted by body snatchers See you there (if you dare)! *Please bring a water bottle and comfortable pair of shoes as we’ll be doing a lot of walking! **If you need to access the Trinity Church restrooms before the tour begins, please arrive early and expect a security check ***This tour concludes at Foley Square About James James Henry is a certified NYC tour guide focusing on the cemeteries and burial spaces of New York City. He has worked for a wide range of organizations including Atlas Obscura, The Bowery Boys, Evergreens Cemetery and Green-Wood Cemetery. Disclaimer Event takes place rain or shine. By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service. Categories: In-Person, Neighborhood Tours