National Register of Historic Places

Union Temple of Brooklyn

Brooklyn, Kings County, New York
Listed
May 17, 2015
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
15000232

About this property

The Union Temple of Brooklyn was a Reform Jewish synagogue located at 17 Eastern Parkway between Underhill Avenue and Plaza Street East in the Prospect Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City, across the street from the Brooklyn Public Library, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Union Temple was the result of the merger of two nineteenth century congregations, K. K. Beth Elohim and Temple Israel. Most recently, the synagogue was led by Rabbi Stephanie Kolin. The building was designed by Arnold Brunner and completed in 1929 as the community house for a planned temple next door, which was never built because of the Great Depression; the 11-story building has been used for the congregation's worship since, except, in the past, on High Holy Days, when the Brooklyn Academy of Music was utilized. In 1942, a theatre in the building was remodeled to be a sanctuary. In 2015 the Union Temple building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2020 Union Temple engaged in merger talks with Congregation Beth Elohim, resulting in a merger on March 26, 2021.

Location

17 Eastern Pkwy.
Brooklyn, Kings County, New York
40.67339, -73.96803

Categories

SOCIAL HISTORYARCHITECTURE
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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Union Temple of Brooklyn

This page lists Union Temple of Brooklyn. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Union Temple of Brooklyn report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Brooklyn Public Library-Central Building
Industrial
0.1 mi
Eastern Parkway
Industrial
0.2 mi
Public School 111 and Public School 9 Annex
Industrial
0.2 mi
Brooklyn Museum
Industrial
0.3 mi
Buildings at 375-379 Flatbush Avenue and 185-187 Sterling Place
Industrial
0.3 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Long Island/Brooklyn Heights Aug 27 1776
1776Revolutionary War
0.8 mi
Battle of Long Island
1776Revolutionary War
1.1 mi
Battle of Long Island — Gowanus Heights
1776Revolutionary War
1.3 mi
Battle of Long Island — Jamaica Pass Flanking
1776Revolutionary War
1.6 mi
Battle of Long Island (Brooklyn Heights)
1776Revolutionary War
1.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Union Temple of Brooklyn listed on the National Register?

Union Temple of Brooklyn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 17, 2015.

What type of historic resource is Union Temple of Brooklyn?

Union Temple of Brooklyn is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Union Temple of Brooklyn?

The period of significance for Union Temple of Brooklyn is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Union Temple of Brooklyn?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Union Temple of Brooklyn will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Kings County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Kings County.

Explore KingsCounty ›

More historic places in New York

Browse all historic places in New York.

View New Yorkhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

New York history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

New Yorkhistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Union Temple of Brooklyn will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report