Northwest of the Vanderbilt Mausoleum, within the serene Vanderbilt Family Cemetery on Staten Island, lies the Sloane Mausoleum. This private family cemetery, not open to the public, holds secrets and stories of prominent New York families. The Sloane Mausoleum is attributed to Richard Howland Hunt. It was commissioned in 1897. Construction finished in the spring of 1898.
Adjacent to the Moravian Cemetery in the New Dorp section, this land is steeped in history. The Vanderbilt Family Cemetery sits on the eastern slope of Todt Hill. This is the highest natural point on the Eastern Seaboard between Cape Cod and Florida.
Frederick Law Olmsted designed the grounds around both the Vanderbilt and Sloane Mausoleums. He was the genius behind Central Park. His landscape design adds to the tranquility and beauty of this final resting place.
Inside the Sloane Mausoleum are eighteen crypts. The Vanderbilt Mausoleum, designed by Richard Morris Hunt, was built between 1884 and 1886. It contains 125 interment spaces. However, only 28 Vanderbilt family members are entombed there. Two more are memorialized on crypts.
The Vanderbilt family’s story is intertwined with the history of Staten Island. Cornelius Vanderbilt gave the Moravian Church 8.5 acres in 1865. Three years later, he donated another 45 acres. This became the majority of the Moravian Cemetery and the site of the private Vanderbilt plot. Later, William Henry Vanderbilt gave an additional four acres. He also constructed the residence for the cemetery superintendent.
The Vanderbilt Mausoleum was inspired by the 12th-century Romanesque Saint-Gilles-du-Gard Abbey near Arles, France. It stands as an extraordinary monument to America’s Gilded Age. In 2016, it became a New York City designated landmark. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2021.
Among the notable burials in the Vanderbilt family section are Cornelius Vanderbilt, the railroad and shipping tycoon, and his family. Also resting here are William Henry Vanderbilt and his wife, Maria Louisa Kissam Vanderbilt. Many other family members are here too, each contributing to the Vanderbilt legacy.
The Vanderbilt Cemetery Association, a nonprofit organization, was created in 2010. Its purpose is to preserve and protect the property. Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt III is the chairman. The association works to maintain the historical integrity of this important site.
The Sloane Mausoleum and the Vanderbilt Mausoleum stand as testaments to the families. Their enduring presence on Staten Island reflects their significant impact on American history. Though the cemetery is private, its legacy remains a vital part of New York City’s story. As we conclude our visit to the Sloane Mausoleum, consider the lives and legacies of those who rest here. Their stories continue to shape our understanding of the past.