Built shortly after the New York Marble Cemetery, one block away, The New York City Marble Cemetery was begun in 1831 and was the second non-sectarian burial ground in the City opened to the public. It was laid out with long parallel walks between which are narrow strips of ground puncutated by the square marble vault slabs. The cemetery may be readily seen through an ornate iron fence with gate, extending along its south side on East Second Street between First and Second Avenues.