There is a great place in Brooklyn that is a must see if you want to learn some of the history, not only of Brooklyn, but also New York and indeed the United States. This place is the Brooklyn Navy Yard Center, more specifically a fantastic and still a work-in-progress museum called with the prosaic and unimaginative name: Building 92. I know...it sounds like something out of a science-fiction, or secret government project about aliens, but until they come up with a better name...we'll call it that.
This is a small gem of a museum. as we recently discovered when we went there not so long ago. Now this is a place, the Brooklyn Navy Yard, that has played an enormous role in American history, and has been around for about 200 years. Because of politics, the whole placed was closed down and neglected for many years, but thanks to a group of people dedicated to preserving this important place in the story of this country, and after much doing-- this museum opened.
At the entrance this gigantic anchor greets you--behind it is a small reception desk where you get the brochure describing the exhibitions, and even though admission is free a small donation is suggested. The exhibitions are splendid. You learn that this building used to be called the Marine Commandant's Residence. As you look at it, there are three floors, with the events about the Brooklyn Navy yard arranged in chronological order beginning from 200 years before to the present. The exhibits are interactive. For example the day we were there, a class of schoolchildren were conducting a historical scavenger hunt. The exhibits have video clips that you can touch to star a narration, there are great artifacts, and as you go up from the first to the third floor, you get an overview of the Navy Yard history. You can go up by either stair or elevator, as the building has been renovated to be handicapped accessible.
For us it was great learning about the early days of Brooklyn, interacting with a giant rotating map that you could touch to see the details of any particular place, and seeing all the many start-up business getting a helping hand in this renovated area.
Another great thing is, that this is a very green building, everything has been done to use and conserve energy wisely. To us though-- the best part was the surprise we got when we got to the air-conditioned cafeteria on the 4th floor. It sits on the roof of the old building, with glass walls on three sides, and a veranda going around it, with plants to brighten it up. It was a treat to eat lunch in a place with such nice views of the river and the neighborhood, honestly we forgot that we were in a museum.
By the time we left, we felt that we had traveled back in time and come back the wiser for it. This is a must see place if you ever come to New York, heck even if you live in New York---go visit!
