{"id":27248,"date":"2012-02-14T11:24:45","date_gmt":"2012-02-14T15:24:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/?p=27248"},"modified":"2025-09-01T21:15:10","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T01:15:10","slug":"brooklyn-museums","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/27248\/brooklyn-museums\/","title":{"rendered":"Get Off Museum Mile and Discover These 8 Brooklyn Museums"},"content":{"rendered":"

You know the Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Botanical Gardens<\/a>, the Brooklyn Children\u2019s Museum and<\/em> the Jewish Children\u2019s Museum. Think you may have tapped all Brooklyn can offer a culture junkie? Think again. Brooklyn is a borough that keeps on giving, and there\u2019s plenty more to explore. Take in some history, with a healthy side of quirk, at these eight offbeat Brooklyn museums.<\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> City Reliquary Museum<\/a><\/strong> <\/h2>\n

 370 Metropolitan Ave. | Williamsburg
\nOnce just a rotating window display, City Reliquary became a full-fledged museum in 2006. The bite-sized Metropolitan Street storefront (the original display remains on Havemeyer, between Grand and Hope Streets) packs rotating exhibits of local art and ephemera, plus a permanent collection of New York memorabilia, into two cozy rooms. Peruse the shelves of Rockaway rocks, Statue of Liberty souvenirs, subway tokens, seltzer bottles, Brooklyn Dodgers photos, and Little Egypt (the mother of belly dance\/burlesque) peep show before heading to the gallery in back. <\/p>\n

Admission & Hours: <\/strong>$7 general admission, $5 for college students, seniors, and educators, free for children 12 and under; Open hours Sunday through Thursday 12-6pm. <\/p>\n

How to get there:<\/strong> L to Lorimer, exit at Metropolitan Ave and Metropolitan Ave (Macri Sq). Go West on Metropolitan Ave.<\/em><\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Waterfront Museum<\/a><\/strong> <\/h2>\n

290 Conover Street at Pier 44 | Red Hook
\nGive Lady Liberty a wave as you hop aboard the 1914 Lehigh Valley Barge #79 for a lesson in the history and current state of New York\u2019s waterways and waterfront. David Sharp, the floating museum\u2019s resident director and tour guide, bought the half-sunken railroad barge in 1985 for one dollar. 300 tons of muck-removal later, the resurrected barge was ready to move from Edgewater, New Jersey to Brooklyn. Today, the Lehigh Valley Barge is a hub for maritime memorabilia and cultural events, like the circus\u2014no surprise given Sharp\u2019s past as a cruise ship clown.<\/p>\n

Admission & Hours:<\/strong> Free (donations welcome); Open hours Thursday 4-8pm and Saturday 1-5pm, for special events or by appointment (school and group tours welcome; $7 per person)<\/p>\n

How to get there:<\/strong> Take the A, C or F train to Jay St. Metrotech station (Smith Street station is closed until 2013). Walk south along Jay St (which becomes Smith St) to Livingston.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

3. <\/strong>New York Transit Museum<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Intersection of Schermerhorn Street and Boerum Place | Brooklyn Heights
\nFor all that time you spend underground, wouldn\u2019t it be nice to know a thing or two about MTA history? The New York Transit Museum digs into the history of urban public transportation through public programs and exhibitions of NYC Subway, bus, commuter rail and bridge and tunnel system artifacts. Housed in Brooklyn Heights\u2019 decommissioned 1936 IND Court Street subway station, the museum is the largest of its kind in the country. Long-term exhibits include Steel, Stone & Backbone: Building New York’s Subways 1900-1925<\/em>, and Fare Collection<\/em>, an interactive look at collection devices used since the subway\u2019s inception. They also operate the (free) Gallery Annex at Grand Central terminal.<\/p>\n

Admission & Hours:<\/strong> Adults $10, Children 2-17 and Senior Citizens (62+) $5, Seniors Free on Wednesdays, Members Free; Tuesday-Friday 10am-4pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am-5pm (Children under 17 must be accompanied by an adult.)<\/p>\n

How to get there:<\/strong> Take the 2, 3, 4, or 5 train to Borough Hall. Or consult the museum’s website for other routes.<\/em><\/p>\n

4.<\/strong> Coney Island Museum<\/strong> <\/h2>\n

1208 Surf Avenue | Coney Island
\nSee Coney Island antiques and relics, like the Steeplechase Horse<\/a>, vintage bumper cars, old Mermaid Parade photos and the Boardwalk Rolling Chair. Coney Island offered immersive entertainment long before movie theaters existed. Housed on the second floor of historical 1208 Surf Ave., the small venue offers a great view of Luna Park, and hosts special events like the Coney Island Film Festival (with frequent burlesque shows and more at the ground floor Sideshows by the Seashore).<\/p>\n

Admission & Hours:<\/strong> $5; Labor Day through Mid June, Saturdays 12pm – 6pm and Sundays 2pm – 6pm. Mid June through Labor Day, Wednesday through Saturday, 12pm – 6pm and Sunday, 2pm – 6pm.<\/p>\n

How to get there: <\/strong>Subway: D, Q N or F train to Coney Island-Stillwell Ave. Exit near Surf Ave and Stillwell Ave and head East on Surf Ave.?Bus: B36, B68, B74, B82 or Express Bus X28, X38 from Manhattan.<\/em><\/p>\n

5.<\/strong> Brooklyn Historical Society Museum & Library<\/a> <\/strong><\/h2>\n

128 Pierrepont Street at Clinton Street | Downtown
\nFounded in 1863, the Brooklyn Historical Society aims to connect Brooklyn\u2019s past to the present. If you too are Brooklyn (or Long Island) born and bred, the museum might inspire you to explore your own family history in the building\u2019s Othmer Library (appointment recommended).<\/p>\n

Admission & Hours: <\/strong>Adults $10, Seniors (62+) and Teachers $6, Students (with ID), BHS members and Children (under 12) Free. Wednesday-Sunday 12-5pm. Library open Wednesday-Saturday 1-5pm.<\/p>\n

How to get there: <\/strong>Subway: 2,3,4,5 to Borough Hall, A,C,F to Jay Street\/Borough Hall, or M,R to Court Street. Bus: B38, B52, B25, B26, B41 to Montague\/Court Street. B67, B65 to Jay Street. B51 City Hall from Manhattan to Court St. \/Cadman Plaza (weekdays only).<\/em><\/p>\n

6. <\/strong>The Wyckoff House<\/strong><\/a> <\/h2>\n

5816 Clarendon Road | East Flatbush
\nThe kid- (and adult-) friendly Wyckoff House is the city\u2019s oldest house (ca. 1652). The farmhouse museum offers house tours and hands-on experiences to educate visitors about early colonial life and agriculture. The museum is open only to guided tours, including small walk-in tours and special group tours (6 or more people). Reserved tours include a \u201cCellar-to-Attic\u201d tour, \u201cFarming & Science,\u201d with an opportunity to make your own coleslaw, relish, pickles or ketchup and \u201cColonial Life,\u201d a look at an indentured laborer\u2019s path to riches, with a lesson in butter churning or herb and sachet-making.<\/p>\n

Admission & Hours: <\/strong>Adults $5, Seniors, Youth (10-18) and Students (with ID) $3, Children (Under 10) and Members Free; Friday and Saturday 11am-4pm, third saturday 11am-3pm. Tuesday through Thursday by appointment only. See site for tour times and booking information.<\/p>\n

How to get there: <\/strong>Wyckoff is easily accessible by a variety of public transit options. Consult the website for<\/em> specific directions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

7. Lefferts Historic House<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Children\u2019s Corner | Prospect Park
\nOnce the kids have had a good run around Prospect Park, take them over to the Lefferts Historic House. Tucked into the Park\u2019s \u201cChildren\u2019s Corner,\u201d by the carousel and zoo, Lefferts was transported from Flatbush, where it was once home to an 18th<\/sup>-century Dutch family (visit the Wyckoff Museum, above, to really connect the dots). The museum utilizes traditional games, toys, tools and farming practices to teach visitors about Brooklyn\u2019s history, from pre-Colonial Flatbush farm days to the present. Visit period rooms inside, and take advantage of craft activities like candle- or fire-making, plus seasonal events like fall\u2019s Harvest Days and the springtime Flax & Fleece Fest.<\/p>\n

Admission & Hours: <\/strong>Free (admission requested for adults touring the House); Saturday-Sunday & holidays 12-4pm<\/p>\n

How to get there: <\/strong>Subway: Q, S, or B train to Prospect Park station; Bus: B16 to Ocean Ave and Empire Blvd. B41to Flatbush Ave and Empire Blvd. B43 to Ocean Ave and Empire Blvd. B48 to Flatbush Ave and Empire Blvd.<\/em><\/p>\n

8. BLDG 92: Brooklyn Navy Yard Center<\/a><\/strong> <\/h2>\n

63 Flushing Avenue | Navy Yard
\nA prolific shipyard-turned-green industry hub, the Brooklyn Navy Yard holds 300 acres and over 165 years of fascinating history. BLDG 92 opened its doors to visitors in November 2011, providing an outlet for exploring the complex\u2019s past, present and future; and viewing the art, designs and innovations of the Yard\u2019s current tenants. While museum admission is free, bike and bus tours of the Navy Yard are also available for a fee. Read oM\u2019s full museum review here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Admission & Hours: <\/strong>Free; Wednesday-Sunday 12-6pm<\/p>\n

How to get there:<\/strong> F train to York Street or the A train to High Street. Walk North to the Brooklyn Navy Yard (via Flushing Avenue). On Saturdays and Sundays from 12-6pm, the complimentary blue Brooklyn Navy Yard van will make continuous loops between BLDG 92 and downtown Brooklyn (intersection: Jay Street and Willoughby Street). The shuttle is easily accessible from the Jay St\/Metrotech station (A,C,F,N,R) and is a quick walk from Borough Hall Stations (2,3,4,5)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Photo: City Reliquary<\/em><\/p>\n