Park Slope

Old Stone House & Washington Park celebrate the 240th Anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn

Special Events and activities for all

August 19, 2016 By John Alexander Brooklyn Daily Eagle
An interactive Old Stone House exhibit showing an actual rifle used by the First Maryland Regiment in August 1776. Photos by Etienne Frossard
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The Old Stone House & Washington Park have announced some special exhibits to commemorate the 240th anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn. From now through October, the popular Park Slope destination will host a series of celebratory events fit for the whole family. Both adults and children can learn about Brooklyn’s rich history while being entertained at the same time.

“Old Stone House: Witness to War” is a new, permanent exhibit that was five years in the making, which takes visitors on a journey through the Revolutionary period in Brooklyn from 1776 until 1783.  Ten themed areas allow visitors to explore this history and consider how war impacted the community, what choices citizens had to make at the time, battle strategies and what makes these issues relevant in today’s world.

“Appropriating Revolution,” a contemporary art exhibition curated by Katherine Gressel, is currently on view Fridays from 3 to 7 p.m. (or by appointment), and runs through Oct. 8. This exhibit reveals how artists are incorporating (and sometimes reinterpreting) the symbols of past revolutions to inform their current socially engaged work.

Revolutions have historically been both catalyzed and commemorated by iconic images, texts and actions — often manifested by artists and artisans. Old Stone House itself serves as a powerful symbol of revolution: a reconstructed Dutch colonial farmhouse on the land where the 1776 Battle of Brooklyn took place.

In conjunction with the opening of “Old Stone House: Witness to War,” “Appropriating Revolution” brings together contemporary artists inspired by the unique history of the House and of other past revolutions in their efforts to address the most important issues of today.

For more information, visit theoldstonehouse.org.

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