Closed to the public for the first two hundred years of its existence, this historic, 300-acre shipbuilding yard is replete with histories of various sorts: American history, military history, New York City history, Brooklyn history. In a slow change of identity and functionality, it's being reconfigured as a 21st century incubator for the artists, green business and movie companies currently residing in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Civil War era vessels were built here, as were ships that were used in World War I, World War II, and the Korean and Vietnam wars. The Brooklyn Navy Yard's World War 2 history alone is substantial. It produced the USS Missouri, famous for being the ship on which the Japanese surrendered in WW2. During the early 1940s, a total of 17 battleships were built, hundreds of carriers and war ships were retooled, and thousands of warships were repaired here.
2. 5 Things to Know about the Brooklyn Navy Yard
About the Brooklyn Navy Yard
- Encompasses 40 buildings, three fully functioning dry docks, four active piers and green outdoor spaces, as well as the Visitors Center.
- Was decommissioned when the US Navy left in 1965
- Ownership was transferred to the City of New York in 1969
- Is under management by the non profit entity, the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corp. (BNYDC)
- Can be toured by bus or bike with groups run by such as Urban Oyster
