Charles Feltman's Mausoleum

Charles Feltman's Mausoleum Description

Charles Feltman's Mausoleum stands as a significant, albeit somber, historical landmark located within the sprawling and historically rich grounds of Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. This private burial structure serves as the final resting place for Charles Feltman (1841-1910), a German immigrant whose entrepreneurial spirit and culinary innovation left an indelible mark on American popular culture. Feltman is widely credited with inventing the hot dog bun in the 1860s, a simple yet revolutionary idea that transformed the consumption of frankfurters from a knife-and-fork affair into the portable, handheld food item we recognize today. [1]

Feltman's legacy extends far beyond the hot dog bun. He established Feltman's Ocean Pavilion in Coney Island, which grew into a massive complex featuring restaurants, beer gardens, hotels, and various amusements. At its peak, it was one of the largest and most popular entertainment destinations in the world, employing hundreds and serving millions of patrons annually. Feltman's success in Coney Island solidified his status as a prominent figure in Brooklyn's history and the development of the iconic seaside resort. [1]

Following his death in 1910, Charles Feltman was interred in his family's mausoleum at Green-Wood Cemetery. Green-Wood itself is a National Historic Landmark, renowned for its stunning Victorian-era landscape design, elaborate monuments, and as the burial site for numerous notable individuals from various fields, including artists, politicians, inventors, and historical figures like Feltman. [2] The cemetery's picturesque hills, valleys, and ponds provide a serene backdrop for the diverse array of funerary architecture, from simple headstones to grand mausoleums.

Feltman's Mausoleum, like many private mausoleums in Green-Wood, is a substantial structure designed to serve as a permanent memorial and burial vault for the family. While specific architectural details of the mausoleum itself might require direct observation or detailed cemetery records, mausoleums from this period often reflect the prevailing architectural styles, such as Neoclassical or Gothic Revival, and are typically constructed from durable materials like granite, marble, or limestone to withstand the test of time. [2] The presence of such a structure underscores Feltman's considerable wealth and social standing achieved through his successful business ventures.

Visiting Charles Feltman's Mausoleum offers a tangible connection to the history of Coney Island, the evolution of American food culture, and the lives of the entrepreneurs who shaped New York City. It stands as a quiet testament to the man whose simple idea had a global impact and whose grand establishment defined an era of entertainment. The listing on directories like manhattan-nyc.com helps to document and make discoverable such historical sites, guiding those interested in exploring the rich history embedded within places like Green-Wood Cemetery and acknowledging the enduring legacy of figures like Charles Feltman. [3]

AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES
Information regarding Charles Feltman's life and business. [Historical Article on Charles Feltman]↩
Details about Green-Wood Cemetery and its mausoleums. [Green-Wood Cemetery Official Website]↩
Listing information for Charles Feltman's Mausoleum. [Charles Feltman's Mausoleum on Manhattan-NYC.com]↩