, New York
Naval History meets Sustainable Future
Join us for this bus tour replete with fascinating stories of the Brooklyn Navy Yard's past, present, and future. For over 150 years, the Brooklyn Navy Yard churned out America's most famous fighting ships, from the USS Maine to the USS Missouri. Today, the Yard is becoming a model for sustainable urban industrial parks. This tour provides opportunities to get off the bus for a closer look at the Yard's most intriguing sites, including a a dry dock that's been used since before the Civil War, the 24-acre former Navy hospital campus that is virtually frozen in time, and the nation's first multi-story LEED Gold-certified industrial building.
For: People who are interested in history, military history, New York, sustainability, urban exploring, architecture, naval history, or ship building.
Guide, transportation inside the yard, and admission to the Navy Yard Visitor Center at Building 92.
Reviews
We toured the Brooklyn Navy Yard (200 acres!) guided by Cindy, a partner in the Urban Oyster tour company. We had a fascinating two-plus hours, partly walking, partly in a bus, learning about the history of the site, its role in war, in manufacturing, and now in start-up companies and film/TV production. Cindy is very bright and has learned the history well, relating it with good pacing, good sense, and good information----only one brief silly moment, which is a world's record for general-interest tour guides. You will probably be as amazed as we were to learn about what is there, was there, when, and why. The NavyYard has a small, very well done museum suited to visitors of many ages (I'd say from 8 up) and a cafe offering interesting views from the outdoor terrace. Take Cindy's Full Tour (2 hours or a bit over)for the most information and the most fun. There was a shutle van from the Jay St. subway station. There's one subway station closer but it was closed for repairs on the day we toured. Buses on Flushing Ave go right there.