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Brooklyn History Photo of the Week: Concert Grove Lagoon, Prospect Park

Written by Susan Gamble on May 2nd, 2012

Concert Grove Lagoon, Prospect Park, 1897, v1973.2.365; The Brooklyn oversize 19th century collection, v1973.002; Brooklyn Historical Society.

As the days get warmer and the nights get shorter there’s nothing like an outdoor picnic to celebrate the early days of summer. This photo of picnickers in Concert Grove Lagoon depicts a picturesque scene of Brooklynites enjoying the mid-day sun at Prospect Park in 1897. At the turn of the twentieth century, as Brooklyn’s population continued to diversify, members of different social classes mixed more and more in public spaces such as parks and theatres – even as class and race divisions continued to stratify. The photograph also depicts a fleet of bicycles for cycling, a leisure activity fast gaining popularity in 1897.

Interested in seeing more photos from BHS’s collection? Visit our online image gallery, which includes a selection of our images. To search our entire collection of images visit BHS’s Othmer Library Wed-Fri, 1:00-5:00 p.m.

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Brooklyn History Photo of the Week: Lovers’ Lane

Written by Keara Duggan on February 15th, 2012

Lovers’ Lane, ca.1887, v1972.1.1233; Early Brooklyn and Long Island photograph collection, ARC.201; Brooklyn Historical Society.

This week, in honor of Valentine’s Day, we share a photograph of Lovers’ Lane in Prospect Park. This image, ca. 1887, features a picturesque pathway, with sunlight softly drifting through the trees. When amateur photographer Walter H. Nelson took this picture, the Frederick Law Olmstead-designed park had been open for two decades. Olmstead intended Prospect Park to offer Brooklynites a secluded, naturalistic escape from the bustling urban center that Brooklyn was becoming – a quality that Nelson’s photograph captures perfectly.

In and out of Prospect Park, Brooklyn offers a number of striking places to walk with your loved ones. As a matter of fact, Brooklyn Historical Society was named as one of the best date spots in Brooklyn by Time Out New York. So celebrate love this week by strolling in a local park, visiting BHS, or taking in the sights of Brooklyn.

Interested in seeing more photos from BHS’s collection? Visit our online image gallery, which includes a selection of our images. To search our entire collection of images visit BHS’s Othmer Library Wed-Fri, 1:00-5:00 p.m.

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Brooklyn History Photo of the Week: Sledding in Prospect Park

Written by Steve Terry on December 28th, 2011

Sledding in Prospect Park, January 1967, V1990.2.39; Donald Nowlan Brooklyn collection, ARC.120; Brooklyn Historical Society.

This photo shows sledders in Prospect Park, January 1967.  Equipped with the wood sleds, plastic discs, and pieces of cardboard, hundreds of winter revelers of all ages flock to the hills of Prospect Park every year. When Prospect Park opened in 1867, it provided a free and accessible public space for Brooklynites to congregate, exercise, and play in the heat of summer and the chill of winter. Today, Prospect Park remains one of the most popular sledding sites in Brooklyn.

Interested in seeing more photos from BHS’s collection? Visit our online image gallery, which includes a selection of our images. To search our entire collection of images visit BHS’s Othmer Library Wed-Fri, 1:00-5:00 p.m.

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Brooklyn History Photo of the Week – Boating in Prospect Park

Written by Emily Reynolds on March 23rd, 2011

Swan boats in Prospect Park, ca.1890, v1972.1.574; Brooklyn Historical Society Photography Collection.

Swan boats in Prospect Park, ca.1890, v1972.1.574; Brooklyn Historical Society Photography Collection.

Prospect Park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux and opened in 1867. Olmsted and Vaux intended to create a pastoral, picturesque landscape and manufactured a series of waterways to help achieve this goal. This body of water, once called Swan Boat Lake, is now known as the Pools, and was recently restored. At the turn of the century, boats like the one pictured were available to rent from a boathouse on the lake, for 10 cents per hour.

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Early Views of Prospect Park

Written by Allison on June 4th, 2010

Tupper Thomas announced her retirement as administrator of Prospect Park just as we were beginning a project to catalog our 19th Century map collection. The collection includes a number of maps covering the progress of Prospect Park from early proposals to today. In honor of both Ms Thomas and the beautiful park she has worked to preserve, here are a few interesting pieces:

An early plan by Egbert Viele. Note Flatbush Avenue cutting directly through the middle of the park. Land was purchased based on Viele’s plan, but plans changed as time passed and the park ended up looking very different.

Plan for the Improvement of Prospect Park. 1861. Egbert L. Viele. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

Plan for the Improvement of Prospect Park. Egbert L. Viele. 1861. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

Another proposal that didn’t advance beyond paper – this one by Benjamin Frost.

Preliminary Map Showing Lineal and Topographical Surveys of Prospect Park Brooklyn, Over Areas Included by Present and Proposed Boundaries. Benjamin D. Frost. 1865. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

Preliminary Map Showing Lineal and Topographical Surveys of Prospect Park Brooklyn, Over Areas Included by Present and Proposed Boundaries. Benjamin D. Frost. 1865. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

An 1865 plan by Calvert Vaux before his partnership with Frederick Law Olmsted.  You can see existing roads running “under” what today is part of the long meadow. Also note the prototype at right for Grand Army Plaza.

Plan Showing Present & Proposed Boundaries of Prospect Park Brooklyn. Calvert Vaux, Architect. Brooklyn Historical Society Collection.

Plan Showing Present & Proposed Boundaries of Prospect Park, Brooklyn. Calvert Vaux, Architect. 1865. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

An 1871 design from Olmsted, Vaux & Co, Landscape Architects.  Made while the park was both open and still under construction, this map includes a reservoir near Grand Army Plaza. Today the central branch of the Brooklyn Public Library and Mount Prospect Park sit on what was the reservoir’s land. Also of interest is the land for sale around the reservoir; part of it makes up today’s Brooklyn Botanic Gardens.

Design for Prospect Park in the city of Brooklyn. Olmsted Vaux & Co., Landscape Architects. Brooklyn Historical Society Collection.

Design for Prospect Park in the city of Brooklyn. Olmsted Vaux & Co., Landscape Architects. 1871. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

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