If you’re driving down the Jackie Robinson Parkway on the border of Brooklyn and Queens, you’ve probably noticed the dense thicket of tombstones pressing up against the guardrails. It’s a twisty, somewhat treacherous road. Most people are just trying to navigate the curves without getting side-swiped. But right there, tucked into the rolling hills of Cypress Hills Cemetery, is the man the road is named after.
Finding the Jackie Robinson burial site isn’t exactly like finding a monument in D.C. There aren't giant neon signs. Honestly, it’s surprisingly quiet. For a man who basically changed the soul of American sports and social fabric, his final resting place is humble. Peaceful.
Where Exactly is Jackie Robinson Buried?
Look, Cypress Hills Cemetery is massive. We’re talking 225 acres and over 400,000 interments. If you just show up and start walking, you'll be there all day.
The grave is located in Section 6, Lot P, Grave 8.
If you want the "local" way to find it, head toward the intersection of Cypress Road and Jackie Robinson Way. It’s right across from the Memorial Abbey. The geography here is a bit weird because the cemetery actually straddles the border of Brooklyn and Queens. Technically, Jackie’s plot is on the Brooklyn side, fitting for a man who became the king of Ebbets Field.
Who Else is There?
He isn't alone. Jackie is buried alongside his son, Jackie Robinson Jr., who tragically died in a car accident in 1971, just a year before his father passed. His mother-in-law, Zellee Isum, is also interred there.
It’s a family plot. No massive mausoleum. No golden statues. Just a granite headstone that looks a lot like the ones surrounding it, save for the incredible words etched into the stone.
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The Inscription That Stops People Cold
You’ve probably seen the quote on posters or in TV specials. But seeing it carved into the gray granite at the Jackie Robinson burial site hits differently.
"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."
It’s not just a slogan. It was his manifesto.
Most people think of Jackie only as a baseball player. They remember the 1947 debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. They remember him stealing home. But if you talk to historians or the folks who maintain the grounds, they’ll tell you he was a civil rights activist first and an athlete second. By the time he died in 1972 at the age of 53—way too young, frankly—he had been through the ringer. Diabetes and heart disease had taken a toll, largely exacerbated by the sheer stress of being the "first."
Why Visitors Leave Baseballs and Sneakers
If you visit today, the site usually looks a bit like a makeshift museum.
Unlike most graves where you might see some withered flowers, people leave baseballs. Dozens of them. They’re tucked into the corners of the headstone. Some have messages written in Sharpie: "Thank you, #42" or "I play because of you."
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You’ll also see:
- Old, muddy baseball bats leaning against the granite.
- Nike sneakers or cleats (a nod to his athletic legacy).
- Coins, specifically pennies and quarters, left on top of the stone.
- Lineup cards from local Little League games.
It’s a living site. It doesn't feel like a "dead" piece of history. It feels like a place where people come to report back to him.
Visiting the Site: The Logistics
Don't just plug "Cypress Hills" into your GPS and hope for the best. There are two different Cypress Hills cemeteries nearby (the National Cemetery is separate). You want the private Cypress Hills Cemetery at 833 Jamaica Avenue.
Timing and Access
- Hours: The main gates on Jamaica Avenue are usually open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
- Weekends: The Cooper Avenue gates are usually only open on Saturdays and Sundays.
- Cost: It’s free. It’s a cemetery, not a museum. Just be respectful of any funeral processions that might be happening nearby.
Honestly, the best way to get there is by car. The cemetery is divided by the parkway, and walking from the subway (the J or Z train) is doable but involves a bit of a hike uphill. If you do take the train, get off at Cypress Hills or 75th St-Eldert Lane and prepare for a 15-minute walk.
What Most People Get Wrong
A common misconception is that Jackie is buried in a "baseball" cemetery.
Actually, Cypress Hills is a "rural cemetery" style, which was popular in the 19th century. It’s meant to be a park. You’ll find all sorts of people here. The famous actress Mae West is in the Abbey nearby. The abstract painter Piet Mondrian is a short walk away.
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Another weird fact? The Jackie Robinson Parkway—the road that literally cuts the cemetery in half—was originally called the Interborough Parkway. They renamed it in 1997. There’s something a bit poetic about the fact that the road carrying thousands of people between the boroughs every day passes right by the man who helped bridge the gap between a segregated past and an integrated future.
Beyond the Grave: The Brooklyn Connection
If you’re making a pilgrimage to the Jackie Robinson burial site, you should probably see the rest of the story.
The site of Ebbets Field is now an apartment complex (Ebbets Field Apartments) in Crown Heights. There’s a small plaque there, but not much else. Then there’s the Jackie Robinson Museum in Lower Manhattan, which opened relatively recently. That’s where you go for the high-tech exhibits and the deep dive into his business career at Chock full o'Nuts and his political activism.
But the cemetery? That’s for the quiet stuff.
It’s where you realize that behind the "Legend" and the "Number 42" was a man who was tired, who fought hard, and who wanted to be buried next to his family.
Actionable Tips for Your Visit
- Bring a Pen: If you're going to leave a baseball, you'll want to write your name or a message on it.
- Check the Weather: The hills in the cemetery catch a lot of wind. It’s always about five degrees colder there than in the rest of Brooklyn.
- Use a Map: Stop by the cemetery office near the Jamaica Avenue entrance. Ask for a map. They are used to people looking for Jackie. They won't judge you.
- Drive the Parkway: After you leave, drive the Jackie Robinson Parkway toward Queens. It’s a difficult, narrow road, but it gives you a sense of the cramped, historic geography of the city he called home.
Seeing the Jackie Robinson burial site reminds you that history isn't just in textbooks. It’s in the dirt of Brooklyn. It’s in the quiet corners of a cemetery where the grass grows over the man who changed everything.
Next Steps:
To fully appreciate the scope of Robinson's life, you should plan a visit to the Jackie Robinson Museum located at 75 Varick Street in Manhattan. While the burial site offers a space for reflection, the museum provides the historical context of his post-baseball career as a bank founder and corporate executive. Check their website for current hours, as they are typically closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.