The Hart Island Project was founded in 1991 by Melinda Hunt for the purpose of making 131 acres of public property in New York City visible and accessible to people from around the world.

Any person who dies unclaimed or unidentified in New York City is likely to be buried on Hart Island. The Hart Island Project attempts to re-unite families and to reduce unnecessary stigma associated with mass burials.

Over three quarters of a million people have been buried on Hart Island since 1869. It is the largest cemetery in the United States. The exact number of burials is unknown because many records were totally destroyed in a fire on Hart Island.

The Hart Island Project seeks to make public burial records accessible and secure for future generations. Hart Island is New York's family tomb, reflecting the rich diversity of an immigrant city.