Battle of Brooklyn Event Calendar:Revolutionary War Tour, Re-enactment, Edu-Fun

Battle Week 2012 — The 236th Anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn

Boston has captured the flag as the site of the most important fights of the American Revolution, but the historic Battle of Brooklyn was a decisive moment, too, in the US War of Independence.

Of course, July 4th is the holiday one associates with Independence Day.

But every August, a week of historic celebrations retraces the steps of patriots, including General George Washington, as they faced off against a far better equipped British army in the early stages of the Revolutionary War, in 1776. This is true Americana, Brooklyn-style.

2012 Battle of Brooklyn Calendar.

For children, students, visitors and Brooklyn residents, the saga of this tense, dramatic battle comes alive during a week of activities designed to honor that battle in 1776. Re-enactments, lectures, parades and more all bring to light the very real stories of the individuals who fought in a struggle whose outcome, while well known to us today, was then yet to be revealed.

1. August 16-23 2012: Revolutionary War Flag Exhibit at Federal Hall. Visit this collection of Revolutionary War-Era Flags,curated By Eric Kramer, in a landmark location (in Manhattan) 212-825-6888.


2. Saturday, August 18 2012, 10-Noon: Michael Rawley Post- Ceremony and March to Remember the Maryland 400 Patriots. Meet and march! First, attend a reading of the names of the Revolutionary War patriots, the Marylanders, followed by a march to the Old Stone House.Where: Start at the American Legion Michael A. Rawley Post at 193 9th Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues, and march to the Old Stone House in Park Slope at 8th Street @ 3rd Avenue. Info: (718) 768-3195. http:/www.theoldstonehouse.org.
   


3. Saturday, August 18,2012 at 2 P.M. : The Battle of Brooklyn, a play by Josh Waldman at the Old Stone House in Park Slope.


4. Saturday, August 18 2012 at 3 – 5 P.M.: Battle of Brooklyn Walking Tour. Meet at Grand Army Plaza entrance Prospect Park.


5. Monday,August 20,2012 at 5 P.M.: Free Concert by The United States Air Force Blue Aces in Brooklyn Heights. Get information.


6. Tuesday, August 21,2012 from 6 – 8 P.M: Battle of Brooklyn Walking Tour. Meet at Grand Army Plaza entrance Prospect Park .


7. Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at 6:30 P.M.: "Into the Mist," a lecture at Brooklyn Bridge Park Trace the steps where the American struggle for independence nearly ended before it really began. Your guide is Vinny Piccolo, Urban Park Ranger.


8. Saturday, August 25, 2012 from 2 - 5 P.M.: Glover’s Marblehead Regiment at Brooklyn Bridge Park.


9. Sunday, August 26,2012 from 11 AM.–2 P.M. Revolutionary New York Van Tour, Fort Greene area. Urban Park Rangers specialize in interpretation of historic turning points,and will describe local sites and their role in the American War of Independence. Due to limited space, participants will be chosen by lottery, learn more.


10. Wednesday, August 29, 2012 at 6:30 P.M: "The Magnificent Retreat – A Walking Tour in Brooklyn Bridge Park". Drama! Here's what the organizers say: "On a moonlit August night in 1776, a regiment of fishermen from Marblehead, MA, rowed General George Washington and the Continental Army across the East River under the noses of the vastly superior British army. 12,000 men with horses and artillery escaped in silence over the river, saving the patriot cause." You can re-live that dramatic night. Where: Brooklyn Bridge Park. Info and to reserve http:www.bbpc.net.


11. August 26, 2012. Full Day of Events including Battle of Brooklyn Re-Enactment, Irish American Parade, Speaker at Green-Wood Cemetery. See the full schedule of events at Green-wood Cemetery. Do not miss this full day of events. Some require reservations, so book ahead. The full day program includes a trolley tour, a parade memorializing the Irish generals in General Washington's army, colonial music, re-enactments, a parade to the top of Battle Hill with it's gorgeous view of NY Harbor, a memorial ceremony on Battle Hill.
    Where: 5th Avenue at 25th Street.Info and to reserve (718) 768-7300. http://www.green-wood.com.

Ongoing Exhibits

The following exhibits are viewable year round.

Battle of Brooklyn Exhibit at Harbor Defense Museum Saturday August 27th 1776 Visit this National Historic site. Their permanent exhibit highlights arms and uniforms representing soldiers who fought in the Battle of Brooklyn. Outside tours overlooking the Narrows where a contingent of British forces landed are available daily. Valid Photo ID is required. Museum Hours: Sat. 10 A.M. – 2 P.M., Mon.-Fri. 10 A.M. – 4 P.M. Where: Fort Hamilton Army Base, Fort Hamilton Parkway and 101st Street, Bay Ridge. Info: (718) 630-4349. http:/www.harbordefensemuseum.com.

Battle of Brooklyn Exhibit at Old Stone House in Park Slope. See history where it happened. Open 11 A.M. – 4 p.m weekends, or by appointment, year-round. Where: Old Stone House, 336 Third Street in Park Slope Info: (718) 768-3195 http:/www.theoldstonehouse.org.

Additional Special August Events: Details to be Announced

We're not yet certain if and when these events, held in years past, will be offered in 2012. Stay tuned.

Declaration of Independence Reading. Although it's not in Brooklyn, the week-long Battle of Brooklyn festivities usually kick off with a reading of the Declaration of Independence at Federal Hall, 26 Wall Street (front steps)in Manhattan. There's a lot to see and do here, and you can take a self guided tour. Highlights include:
— the Bible used by George Washington to take the oath of office as the first President of the United States
— the railing of the original Federal Hall balcony, behind which Washington stood for his presidential oath, and
— a stone floor from the original Federal Hall, where first American President stood for his swearing-in ceremony. Info: (212) 825-6888.

Evergreens Cemetery Walking Tour. Join a walking tour of the revolutionary war sites. Where:Meet at Evergreen Cemetery Main Gate, Bushwick Avenue and Conway Street Info: (718) 455-5300. http:/www.theevergreens.org.

Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Tour. Paddle the Gowanus Canal and learn about the history of this infamous escape route for American soldiers during the Revolutionary War. Where: 2nd Street between Bond and the Gowanus Canal. Info: (718) 768-3195. http:/www.gowanuscanal.org.

Prison Ships Martyrs Memorial Ceremony. Coordinated by the Society of Old Brooklynites, American Merchant Marine Association, and Navy Armed Guard. Where: Prison Ships Martyrs Monument, Fort Greene Park. Info: (718) 499–7600.

Re-enactment at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Re-live the so-called Great Escape, a historic depiction of the dramatic end of the Battle of Brooklyn. This is a fun event for buffs of maritime history. Where: Main Street/Brooklyn Bridge Park. Info: http://www.brooklynbridgepark.org.