Commemorating 250 years since the Battle of Brooklyn on the site where it all began!
We invite you to mark America’s 250th anniversary at Green-Wood as part of Brooklyn 250. Stand atop Battle Hill, the pivotal site where the largest Battle of the Revolutionary War unfolded 250 years ago, and celebrate Brooklyn’s enduring role in shaping the American story! Through free walking, trolley, and digital tours and festive family programs, reflect on the early fight for independence and the themes of liberty, resilience, and democracy that continue to shape the nation today.
Brooklyn 250 is made possible with funding championed by Assemblymember Robert Carroll, Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, and State Senator Andrew Gounardes.
BROOKLYN 250 AT GREEN-WOOD
- Battle of Brooklyn 250: The Meaning of Freedom – Join us on Sunday, August 23rd, for our largest Battle of Brooklyn commemoration yet! Enjoy a family-friendly afternoon of living history, hands-on activities, a parade, and a special ceremony atop Battle Hill.
- American Revolution School Programs: Throughout 2026, Green-Wood is offering a limited number of free walking and trolley programs NYC public school students in grades 4–12 to explore the history of the Battle of Brooklyn.
- America250 at Green-Wood: A New Free Self-Guided Tour (Coming Soon): Explore Green-Wood’s Revolutionary War history at your own pace with a free self-guided digital tour on Bloomberg Connects.
- Free Walking and Trolley Tours: Join us throughout the year for free public programs that explore Brooklyn’s Revolutionary history and its ongoing role in the fight for liberty. Upcoming programs below!
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
Events
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Brooklyn’s Black Trailblazers Trolley Tour: Juneteenth Edition
On June 19, 1865, a Union general informed enslaved people in Texas that they were free—more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Communities across the United States have marked the date ever since. Declared a federal holiday in 2021, Juneteenth is both a celebration of progress in the fight for freedom and ... Read more
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The Revolution Continues: Gay Green-Wood, Family Edition! Trolley Tour
Join us for a special kid-friendly trolley tour celebrating LGBTQ+ trailblazers who have left a lasting impact on American history and culture, led by one of Green-Wood’s experienced educators. You’ll visit the gravesites of Paul Jabara, co-writer of “It’s Raining Men;” Emma Stebbins, sculptor of the Angel of the Waters at Central Park’s Bethesda Fountain; and more as you explore ... Read more
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America250: Rest in Pace
This Fourth of July, trade the crowds for the quiet beauty of Green-Wood. Join Rest in Pace, our leisurely walking group, for a star-spangled stroll through one of Brooklyn's most extraordinary settings—no fireworks necessary! Together, we'll meander through the Cemetery's scenic paths at a comfortable pace, taking in beautiful views, uncovering fascinating stories, and connecting with fellow walkers ... Read more
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The Revolution Continues: Brooklyn’s Black Trailblazers
Celebrating the Black pioneers of Brooklyn, this trolley tour honors the trailblazers at rest in Green-Wood who shaped art, activism, music, and medicine. Visit the memorials of revolutionary artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, civil rights leaders Grace Nail Johnson and James Weldon Johnson, mathematician Charles L. Reason (the first Black college professor in the United States), and other visionaries whose legacies live ... Read more
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America250: Fourth of July Walking Tour at Green-Wood
Travel back to the summer of 1776 and explore Brooklyn's pivotal role in the Revolutionary War. The cemetery's rolling hills were once the site of the Battle of Brooklyn, the largest battle of the war and a turning point in the fight for independence. On this 90-minute walking tour of Green-Wood, you’ll learn how American forces under ... Read more
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America250: Fourth of July Family Trolley Tour at Green-Wood
Travel back to the summer of 1776 and explore Brooklyn's pivotal role in the Revolutionary War. The Cemetery's rolling hills were once the site of the Battle of Brooklyn, the largest battle of the war and a turning point in the fight for independence. On this family-friendly trolley tour of Green-Wood, you’ll learn how American forces under George ... Read more
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America250: Fourth of July Trolley Tour at Green-Wood
Explore Green-Wood’s Revolutionary War history on a Fourth of July trolley tour through the site of the Battle of Brooklyn! Travel back to the summer of 1776 and explore Brooklyn's pivotal role in the Revolutionary War. The Cemetery's rolling hills were once the site of the Battle of Brooklyn, the largest battle of the war ... Read more
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The Battle of Brooklyn 250: The Meaning of Freedom
Come gather where this country began. Two hundred and fifty years ago, parts of the first major battle of the Revolutionary War was fought on land that is now Green-Wood, and we're marking the anniversary with our biggest Battle of Brooklyn event ever! Immerse yourself in August 1776 through costumed interpreters, civilian and soldier stories, diverse perspectives on this pivotal moment, and a special ... Read more
Green-Wood’s public programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, as well as the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.
