Brooklyn Heights.
Across the river from Manhattan lies New York’s original suburb. To escape the hectic streets of the city, New Yorkers moved to Brooklyn, and the wealthiest of families were able to develop Brooklyn Heights with classical artistry. This neighborhood is the closest to the Financial District and yet much quieter than the island. Fortunately, the community over the years has protected the comforting streets and help maintain its strong character as a treasure of New York City. Brooklyn Heights is still filled with rich architecture and history.
Many notable American and New York events occurred in the Brooklyn Heights area. In the early days of American history, Brooklyn Heights was one the first sites for the Dutch to settle. In 1646, the area became the first chartered township in the region, called “Breuckelen”, making it the birthplace of Brooklyn [1]. Shortly after, New Amsterdam was chartered on the island of Manhattan. For centuries onward, the two cities were closely linked in many dimensions. New Amsterdam rapidly grew as the economic center, and boats provided transportation for commuters of all types to and from Brooklyn. Over the years, wealthy families moved to Brooklyn Heights as the city became more congested and realized the quiet benefits of the neighborhood while maintaining proximity to Downtown Manhattan.
In 1776, George Washington was stationed at the heights as a strategic uphill location after battling and retreating from the British during the Battle of Brooklyn. He would escape over the East River at night and continue up Manhattan Island in order to hide in the Northeastern woods. Later on, he would lead the Patriots to victory [2].
In 1834, Brooklyn was granted its independent city charter, and the site for city hall was chosen in Brooklyn Heights. The land was donated by Remsen and Pierrepont, and the building was completed in 1848. Streets were named in their honor. The historical building is now Borough Hall after the five boroughs were consolidated into the Greater New York City [3].
And lastly, Brooklyn Heights is the site of one end of the Great Brooklyn Bridge. When proposals for the bridge were being considered in the latter half of the 19th century, the Heights was an optimal location to establish the Brooklyn end. Many people wanted to live in Brooklyn and ferry service was no longer adequate to transport workers [4]. Moreover, Brooklyn Heights homed many elites and was the hub for many municipal activities, and so, the Brooklyn Bridge would connect the city halls almost directly. Its geographical location and influence have made Brooklyn Heights a vital part of the ongoing activities of New York City.
Today, Brooklyn Heights is a historical district. As a result, the streets and buildings are protected from destructive developments that would change the character of the neighborhood. People can enjoy the waterfront parks and piers with some of the best views of Manhattan. The Brooklyn Heights Promenade is a beautiful upper-level walking park, and some piers have been transformed into sport complexes with basketball, soccer and beach volleyball. And finally, Brooklyn Bridge Park is an incredible spot with impeccable views under the cover of the great bridge. Brooklyn Heights is short walk away from DUMBO, another characteristic Brooklyn neighborhood. And across the bridge, you can easily visit City Hall and the Seaport area in Manhattan.
By Nick Borak
Places to Visit
Brooklyn Borough Hall
The old city hall of Brooklyn and great architectural building. The Plaza is surrounded by bureaucratic buildings and short walk away from shops.
Brooklyn War Memorial
A memorial for Brooklynites who sacrificed their lives in WWII.
Brooklyn Heights Promenade
A walkway on the edge of the neighborhood, above the BQE and delivering beautiful views of the city.
Brooklyn Bridge
A cathedral-like bridge connecting Brooklyn Heights and Manhattan City Hall over the East River.
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Beautiful park underneath bridge along the water, connecting to DUMBO, and soccer fields, sport courts and beach volleyball. There are restaurants and ice cream store.
Seaport - Manhattan
Near bridge on Manhattan side, Seaport is an old-style neighborhood with many brand shops, events and an old ship on the water.
Sources
[1] Early and Colonial Years. History of Brooklyn. Thirteen: Media With Impact. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
http://www.thirteen.org/brooklyn/history/history2.html
[2] Battle of Long Island. The American Revolution. PBS. Retrieved 5 December 2017. Video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdPI6T1kqD0
[3] History of Brooklyn Borough Hall. Bklyn. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
https://www.brooklyn-usa.org/history-2/
[4] Brooklyn Bridge. How Do They Do It? Discovery Channel. 17 January 2018. Video.
DISCLAIMER: Most information is acquired by surfing the internet, reading books and watching documentaries. We try to give credit where credit is due. If you find an error or issue with the content, please contact us so we can try to verify and edit the information.