Brooklyn 250 is a borough-wide commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn, supported by $350,000 in state funding. Led by The Green-Wood Cemetery, the Old Stone House, Brooklyn Public Library’s Center for Brooklyn History, Prospect Park Alliance, Fort Greene Park Conservancy, and Friends of Fort Defiance, the initiative brings Brooklyn’s Revolutionary history to life through free tours, exhibitions, performances, reenactments, panel discussions, book talks, family programs, and a collectible “then-and-now” pamphlet and map.
Together, these programs invite New Yorkers to explore Brooklyn’s pivotal role in the fight for independence and reflect on the history, people, and ideals that continue to shape the nation today.
Brooklyn 250 is made possible with funding championed by Assembly member Robert Carroll, Assembly member Jo Anne Simon, and State Senator Andrew Gounardes.
To learn more about how Green-Wood is commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Nation, click here!
Exhibitions
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Battle of Brooklyn: Fought and Remembered
Read more: Battle of Brooklyn: Fought and RememberedFebruary 4, 2026 – January 2, 2027. The Battle of Brooklyn: Fought and Remembered uses primary source material from CBH’s collection, including artifacts, archival documents, and rare maps to bring the summer of 1776 alive. The exhibition also explores how Brooklynites have remembered their borough’s Revolutionary War past with a look back at battle commemorations from the…
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Guided Exhibition Tour
Read more: Guided Exhibition TourFebruary 12th, 2026 – December 26th, 2026. In August of 1776, the first and largest battle of the American Revolution took place in what is now Brooklyn, NY. The Battle of Brooklyn: Fought and Remembered uses primary source material from the Center for Brooklyn History’s collection to relay the story of this turning point in American history, sharing the events of…
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Breaking the Law: Themes of Protest and Disobedience from the Declaration of Independence Onward
Read more: Breaking the Law: Themes of Protest and Disobedience from the Declaration of Independence OnwardJune 25th, 2026 – September 7th, 2026. Considering the role of contemporary artists in both exposing and responding to unjust laws or interpretations of laws, including organizing communities and directly influencing acts of protest and civil disobedience. Register Here
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Exhibit: Black People and the Battle of Brooklyn
Read more: Exhibit: Black People and the Battle of BrooklynJuly 1st, 2026 – August 30th, 2026. Black people played important and varied roles in the Battle of Brooklyn in August 1776 – the first and largest battle of the American War for Independence. They served as soldiers and spies on both sides, built the American forts in downtown Brooklyn, and serviced the British ships in the Narrows.…
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Exhibit: Battle Pass in Prospect Park
Read more: Exhibit: Battle Pass in Prospect ParkJuly 1st, 2026 – August 30th, 2026. Join Prospect Park Alliance to learn more about the Revolutionary War’s Battle of Brooklyn, the first and largest battle of the American War for Independence, on its 250th anniversary with this replica of the famous Battle Pass. In August 1776, American troops established a defensive position on this site,…
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Black Loyalist Virtual Tour
Read more: Black Loyalist Virtual TourJuly 1st, 2026 – August 30th, 2026. Join Prospect Park Alliance for a virtual tour of the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre in Shelburne, Nova Scotia at Lefferts Historic House. Many Black Brooklynites worked for the British army during the American Revolution. Some gained freedom from enslavement by doing so. When the Americans won the war, these Black…
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Tour: Battle of Brooklyn’s Battle Pass
Read more: Tour: Battle of Brooklyn’s Battle PassJuly 1st, 2026 – August 30th, 2026. Join Prospect Park Alliance for a free tour of the park to learn about the Battle of Brooklyn. This one-hour tour begins and ends at Lefferts Historic House, taking visitors to Battle Pass to see the replica fortifications where in 1776, thousands of Pennsylvania and New England soldiers fought…
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Fort Defiance Sidwalk Galleries
Read more: Fort Defiance Sidwalk GalleriesJuly 4th, 2026 – August 30th, 2026. Explore archaeological findings and significant source materials, including correspondence from George Washington, Henry Knox & Nathaniel Greene about Fort Defiance, Red Hook Lane and the defense of the New York Harbor, in the campaign of 1776. Register Here
Events
Events
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Battle of Brooklyn Walking Tour
Old Stone House & Washington Park 336 Third Street, Brooklyn, New York, United StatesTrace the Continental Army’s retreat during the Battle of Brooklyn, from Grand Army Plaza to the Old Stone House, with a snack and private gallery tour. Meets at Grand Army Plaza near the entrance to Prospect Park, across from the Arch Approximate address: Prospect Park West and Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215 Link Get Tickets ... Read more
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Frank London’s Loisaida Fife and Drums Corps.
Old Stone House & Washington Park 336 Third Street, Brooklyn, New York, United StatesGrammy-award winning trumpeter and composer Sir Frank London's Loisaida Fife & Drum Corps celebrates the release of their recording Touzle Your Kurchy (Adhyaropa Records) and America’s 250th anniversary with a concert of re-imagined American Revolutionary and Civil War music. The ensemble — some of New York’s greatest musicians, bold improvisers who have performed with everyone from Henry Threadgill & ... Read more
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CBH Talk | An Unfinished Revolution: Dialogues on Freedom and Democracy, Part 3 – Kellie Carter Jackson on James Baldwin’s “A Letter to My Nephew”
Center for Brooklyn History 128 Pierrepont Street, Brooklyn, New York, United StatesIn each of three programs, a distinguished historian selects a short reading that is shared in advance with all attendees. These short texts open the door to deeper reckoning with the ideas and realities of liberty, equality, and the contested values at the core of the American experiment. This is the final program in the ... Read more
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Spilling Tea About the Revolution
Old Stone House & Washington Park 336 Third Street, Brooklyn, New York, United StatesJoin historian and educator Sydney Marenburg 250 years ago, these streets were flooded with volunteer soldiers who left their homes and families to take up arms against a tyrannical government. What were the events that spurred such passion, joining together individuals from thirteen colonies, to see themselves as a united, and free force? How did ... Read more
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CBH Talk | The New York Prison Ships in the Revolutionary War
Center for Brooklyn History 128 Pierrepont Street, Brooklyn, New York, United StatesA discussion with historian Robert Watson about his book on the HMS Jersy titled "The Ghost Ship of Brooklyn: An Untold Story of the American Revolution". .stk-cg8mhxl .stk-button{background:var(--weir-green) !important;}Register Here .stk-gub0q21 .stk-img-wrapper{width:800px !important;}
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Battle of Brooklyn 250th Anniversary Reenactment
Join Prospect Park Alliance, the Old Stone House of Brooklyn and the Brigade of the American Revolution to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn, the largest battle of the American War for Independence. Enjoy a re-enactment of the historic Battle of Brooklyn, following the footsteps of the soldiers who fought in this ... Read more
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CBH Battle of Brooklyn Community Day
Center for Brooklyn History 128 Pierrepont Street, Brooklyn, New York, United StatesJoin the Center for Brooklyn History on Saturday, August 22nd, 2026 for an all-day event commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn, the largest battle of the Revolutionary War for American independence. Highlighting CBH's exhibition The Battle of Brooklyn: Fought and Remembered, this family-friendly event features kids’ storytime, craftmaking and hands-on activities; curator-led ... Read more
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Maryland 400 Remembrance Ceremony & Battle of Brooklyn Living History
Old Stone House & Washington Park 336 Third Street, Brooklyn, New York, United StatesAugust 27, 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn. Old Stone House & Washington Park partners with the Society of the Cincinnati of Maryland, the Sons of the American Revolution Battle of Brooklyn Chapter, and the Michael A. Rawley American Legion Post to commemorate the Battle of Brooklyn. This event includes reenactor regiments from the ... Read more
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America’s 250th Anniversary Tour of Fort Greene
Join us on America’s 250th Anniversary Tour of Fort Greene, where you will have the opportunity to take a Walking Tour highlighting the rich, complex, and evolving legacy of Fort Greene Park. This tour will explore Fort Greene’s historical relationship to the American Revolutionary War, using monuments and storytelling to trace the significance of the ... Read more
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The Battle of Brooklyn 250: The Meaning of Freedom
Come gather where this country began. Two hundred and fifty years ago, parts of the first major battle of the Revolutionary War was fought on land that is now Green-Wood, and we're marking the anniversary with our biggest Battle of Brooklyn event ever! Immerse yourself in August 1776 through costumed interpreters, civilian and soldier stories, diverse perspectives on this pivotal moment, and a special ... Read more
Green-Wood’s public programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, as well as the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.