Brooklyn Historical Society – Pierrepont Street

Brooklyn Heights Description

Brooklyn Historical Society – Pierrepont Street is located in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. Brooklyn Heights is arguably the most historic and bucolic of the Brooklyn neighborhoods. It was defended by George Washing against the British armies during the Battle Of Long Island in the Revolutionary War and became the first commuter town in Brooklyn when steamboat service was established at Fulton Ferry Landing, and in 1965, under threat of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway being built straight through the neighborhood, Brooklyn Heights became a protected New York Historic District, the first under the Landmark Preservation Law that was created in the wake of the original Pennsylvania Station being demolished. Since then, the neighborhood's trajectory has never changed. Populated with beatific brownstones and some legitimate mansions, the always upscale Brooklyn Heights remains one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the city.

Not surprisingly then, you'll find the Brooklyn Historical Society Museum in Brooklyn Heights, where visitors can steep themselves in the museum's well-documented history of the borough, including seasonal exhibitions on the changing face of neighborhoods, famous Brooklynites, and permanent collections like photographic exhibits of the borough's inhabitants, landmarks, and geography throughout the years. As for famous inhabitants, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Norman Mailer lived in Brooklyn Heights, near the 70 Willow Street residence where Truman Capote wrote the novel Breakfast At Tiffany's, and not too far from the former 102 Pierrepoint Street residence where fellow Pulitzer Prize-winning author Arthur Miller wrote All My Sons. Miller lived for a time with wife Marilyn Monroe at 62 Montague Street, where he wrote Death Of A Salesman.

Because of its proximity to downtown Manhattan, Brooklyn Heights has some of the best views of the Financial District's looming buildings. Sitting quietly atop the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and stretching from Remsen to Orange Streets, the Promenade also affords the strolling visitor views of the East River, the Statue of Liberty, and a large portion of New York Harbor. The Promenade is also a favorite viewing area for the city's many fireworks displays, like the Macy's Fourth of July fireworks and the annual New Year's and Diwali fireworks. And just a short walk from the north end of the Promenade is the entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge and its promenade, which offers similarly brilliant views of Brooklyn and Manhattan and various waterways and waterfront institutions. Brooklyn Bridge Park has become a full-on attraction in its own right in recent years, with Syfy's Movies With A View showing outdoor movies every summer, sports (including kayaking) at Pier 2, the beach at Pier 4, a soccer complex at Pier 5, Pier 3's Greenway Terrace, the odd Squibb Park & Bridge, and food from some of New York City's hottest restaurateurs. That is, of course, leaving out the famous Grimaldi's—which is, of course, no longer run by the Grimaldi family nor in the original location—and Juliana's, from Patsy Grimaldi, and for desert, the delightful BBrooklyn Ice Cream Factory.

As for shopping, one of Housing Works Thrift Shops' most popular branches is in Brooklyn Heights, serving up New York thrift in charitable fashion. The neighborhood reads so much that a Brooklyn Heights location of Manhattan favorite St. Mark's Comics opened just down the street from Heights Books. Once your eyes and feet are tired, give your stomach a workout at Noodle Pudding, Brooklyn Heights' best Italian eatery, Teresa's for some of the best Polish food in the borough, or Red Gravy from Saul Bolton, the proprietor behind the critically acclaimed Saul.

Finally, Brooklyn Heights has grand sentinels on its eastern border in the Marriott Brooklyn Bridge hotel and the swank Nu Hotel.