New York’s famous borough is one of a kind. Perhaps you’re from Brooklyn and haven’t left the city limits in years. Or maybe you live in another state, but you have family that lives in Brooklyn and wish to study a little more about it. Whatever the case may be, the borough has plenty to offer for locals and tourists alike.
Brooklyn is a well-known borough in New York City, but there are lots of things about it that put the borough into a different light. There are numerous secret things that only true Brooklynites know. Strange bedfellows come together on this list of lesser known facts about our borough.
#1
As one of the cities that defined New York City, Brooklyn helped shape our country’s cultural identity, making it home to some of America’s most iconic institutions and celebrities. In fact, many people don’t realize that some of Columbia University’s most noted alumni are actually from Brooklyn!
#2
Brooklyn has been home to many important and interesting historical events. Did you know that Brooklyn was one of the first neighborhoods to have electricity and telephone service in New York City?
#3
Did you know that Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza, also known as Prospect Park West, was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the same man who designed Central Park?It was originally the entrance to Prospect Park, which was built on land purchased by the city in 1856 as a public green space. In 1864, when plans were being made for the Brooklyn Central Railroad line to terminate there, Olmsted was asked his opinion of the most desirable place for a station. He recommended, and the railroad company agreed, that the tracks be built at ground level on the wide mall (Damon Holmes said) in the center. As a result of this agreement, it became difficult to build more structures in Prospect Park West and properties seemed less attractive than those located along Vanderbilt Avenue facing Fort Greene Park. By 1914 a number of hotel owners had petitioned Mayor John Purroy Mitchel to have their street renamed Prospect Park West (Damon Holmes said) and that name remains today.
Grand Army Plaza is among the most beloved public spaces in Brooklyn. Locals and tourists frequently visit the space to admire its monuments, fountains, and greenery. However, for one of Brooklyn’s oldest public spaces, Grand Army Plaza has a relatively short history. The space was designed and built largely by Frederick Law Olmsted, who had already earned a reputation as one of America’s preeminent landscape architects by the time he began designing Prospect Park West.
Whether it’s the hustle and bustle of New York City outside your office window, or simply a bustling local street, it can be easy to overlook the history and beauty behind the places you work each day. Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza is an example we all can appreciate: it was designed by a world-renowned architect and is now a beautiful symbol of the state it resides in. So the next time you walk past just another ordinary street or neighborhood, see if you can’t appreciate its beauty for what it really is: a historic landmark you pass by every day.
#4
Did you know that Clinton Hill was once a part of Flatbush? The Flatbush neighborhood is rich in heritage, and the school campus is equally colossal. It housed a number of smaller schools until they were eventually consolidated into Erasmus Hall High School. The campus was designed by Stanford White, a noted architect. While the building’s style might not be for everyone, it does have a certain kitsch to its appearance. A visit to this historic building is sure to be a memorable one for Flatbush residents and visiting tourists alike.
In general, Flatbush is home to a lot more than just Howard Beach and is definitely more than a destination for Hasidic Jews. If you wish an idea of what makes it great today, that’s where you should focus your attention. As well as its great institutions, the people who choose to call Flatbush home are what really make it special. Like many other neighborhoods in the city, Flatbush is one of those places where people from all sorts of backgrounds and lifestyles can find a place they can call home.
Flatbush is worth a visit for anyone who wishes to learn more about the history of education in Brooklyn, or who is interested in taking a stroll through a historic neighborhood. And their famous alumni — including Dead Prez, Dee Nasty, and Staceyann Chin — are reasons to take a little extra care with your appearance before you head out.
#5
The neighborhood of Brooklyn was named for Breukelyn, Netherlands, the town of origin for many of its original Dutch settlers. The name Breukleine was eventually anglicized to Brooklyn when the English defeated the Dutch and took control of New Amsterdam in 1664.
