National Register of Historic Places

Eastern Parkway

New York, Kings County, New York
Listed
September 25, 1983
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
83001689

About this property

Eastern Parkway is a major east–west boulevard in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, it was built between 1870 and 1874 and has been credited as the world's first parkway. At the time of its construction, Eastern Parkway extended to the eastern edge of the then-independent city of Brooklyn. The road begins at Grand Army Plaza (the main entrance to Prospect Park) and runs 3.8 miles (6.1 km) east to Bushwick Avenue. The initial portion of Eastern Parkway, west of Ralph Avenue, consists of a main road and two service roads separated by landscaped medians, which include bike paths and walkways. The section west of Ralph Avenue is a New York City scenic landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places. The part east of Ralph Avenue is narrower and is officially known as the Eastern Parkway Extension. Olmsted and Vaux designed Eastern Parkway, along with Ocean Parkway, in the 1860s to connect Prospect Park with neighborhoods further afield. Eastern Parkway was built with the expectation that it would be the centerpiece of a neighborhood with "first-class" housing. Ultimately, the resulting development encompassed a variety of building styles including single-family homes, mansions, and apartment buildings. Eastern Parkway has been modified several times over the years. The extension east of Ralph Avenue was built in the late 1890s, and the original parkway's service roads were widened in the 1900s. The neighborhoods around the parkway developed into Doctor's Row in the late 19th century, and further development occurred with the opening of the New York City Subway’s IRT Eastern Parkway Line in 1920. Following a period of deterioration, the section between Washington and Ralph avenues was rebuilt between 1987 and 1993, and the section west of Washington Avenue was rebuilt in the 2000s. By the 21st century, Eastern Parkway had some of Brooklyn's most dangerous intersections.

Location

New York, Kings County, New York
40.67100, -73.96859

Categories

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTLANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Finds & Access
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Nearby Historic Sites

Brooklyn Public Library-Central Building
Industrial
0.1 mi
Union Temple of Brooklyn
Industrial
0.2 mi
Brooklyn Museum
Industrial
0.2 mi
Litchfield Villa
Industrial
0.3 mi
Public School 111 and Public School 9 Annex
Industrial
0.4 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Long Island/Brooklyn Heights Aug 27 1776
1776Revolutionary War
0.8 mi
Battle of Long Island
1776Revolutionary War
0.9 mi
Battle of Long Island — Gowanus Heights
1776Revolutionary War
1.2 mi
Battle of Long Island — Jamaica Pass Flanking
1776Revolutionary War
1.5 mi
Battle of Long Island (Brooklyn Heights)
1776Revolutionary War
1.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Eastern Parkway listed on the National Register?

Eastern Parkway was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 25, 1983.

What type of historic resource is Eastern Parkway?

Eastern Parkway is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Eastern Parkway?

The period of significance for Eastern Parkway is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Eastern Parkway?

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