New York City New York City Brooklyn Heights Sights

Brooklyn Heights Promenade, Between Remsen and Orange St. by the East River The best views of the Manhattan skyline can be had from this elevated riverside walkway. Sweeping views of the borough, along with the impressive expanse of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge behind it, draw crowds of tourists and locals when the weather is right. The Statue of Liberty is easily visible across the way. To best enjoy this collection of dozens of postcards rolled into one, try the many benches along the way. Come on July 4 for amazing, front-row seats to the East River fireworks display.
Brooklyn Historical Society, 128 Pierrepoint St. (at Clinton St.) (www.brooklynhistory.org), Brooklyn's fascinating history is encapsulated on the three floors of the Society's beautiful red-brick building, completed in 1881 and full of ornate facade flourishes. Most of the exhibits are present on a rotating basis. Some recent ones included photographic exhibits on the Tivoli Towers in Crown Heights and several collection of Dodgers memorabilia. You'll probably run into a great deal of Dodgers nostalgia, but it's the whole diverse sweep of Brooklyn history that's really on hand. $6, students $4. Open W-F noon-5pm, Sa 10am-5pm, Su noon-5pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Has air conditioning.
Plymouth Church House of the Pilgrims, 75 Hicks St. (at Orange St.) (www.plymouthchurch.org), There's a lot of history in this large but unassuming structure in quiet Brooklyn Heights. The church was founded in 1847, and Henry Ward Beecher, brother of Uncle Tom's Cabin author Harriet Beecher Stowe, served as its first pastor. Beecher's fervent, dramatic sermons against slavery—he would even imitate a slave auctioneer to encourage audience members to purchase the freedom of actual slaves—drew huge crowds and an even larger reputation as a center for abolitionism. The church backed its words up with action, and it soon became known as the Grand Central Depot on the Underground Railroad. Abraham Lincoln attended a service after delivering his famous speech at Cooper Union in 1860. His pew is marked with a silver plaque. Hours are restricted and snagging a tour requires advance effort, but the rich history of the church warrants it. Church offices open M-F 9am-5pm. Services Su 11am. Call ahead for tours, available M-F 10am-4pm, Su noon-4pm. No wheelchair access. Has air conditioning.
New York Transit Museum (MTA), Boerum Pl. and Schermerhorn St. (www.mta.info/mta/museum), The entrance to the MTA's own museum is a discontinued Subway entrance; the rest of the underground museum may not be as ingenious, but it is fascinating in its revealing look at the everyday work of the city's public transport system. You can check out the different fares charged throughout the decades (5 cents?!) and check out an artificial street intersection, complete with historical examples of traffic lights, buses, and trolleys. A collection of photos, videos, and text pays tribute to the builders of the Subway system. Admission $5. Open Tu-F 10am-4pm, Sa-Su noon-5pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Has air conditioning.
St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 157 Montague and Clinton St. (www.stannandtheholytrinity.org), Built between 1844 and 1848, this majestic church is one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the country. The highlight is the 55 stained glass windows, the earliest examples of their kind in the United States (and still widely considered the best of their time). The truncated tower is a distinctive landmark. Back when there was a spire, it was used as a navigation mark by sailors. The church was unused and fell into disrepair during the 1960s, but St. Ann's Parish transferred in 1970 and refurbished the building. Previous occupants included a St. Ann's School and a St. Ann's Warehouse, the experimental theater company that the church housed before the company relocated to their DUMBO warehouse in 2000. Open M-F noon-2pm. Su services 11am. Wheelchair access.
Willow Street Nos. 155-159, Willow St. between Clark and Pierrepont St. This preserved set of row houses, dating from the early 1830s, are aesthetic highlights in a neighborhood full of stiff competition. They are some of the oldest examples of Federal-style architecture in the city.
Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon St. (at Fulton St. Mall) (www.brooklyn-usa.org), Once the stately city hall of sovereign Brooklyn in the 19th century, this 1849 structure is now merely Borough Hall. That doesn't change the fact that magnificent seating can be had on its steps, perfect for wolfing down that halal food. Brooklyn diehards can check out the tourist center outside for maps, memorabilia, and mementos. Open M-F 9am-5pm. Wheelchair access. Has air conditioning.