The point 1766 (SW corner of Red Hook)

Same point in 1911. Fairway building is at bottom left

Part of same point, end of Van Brunt Street, circa 1950s. Fairway building is at the right.

PortSide has been researching Red Hook history in order to create several historical products along a waterfront theme: an interactive website, a visitor guide, CDs with oral history and ambient sound. 

We initially called this a "maritime trail" but realized that the word "maritime" didn't capture the full range of what we were assessing. Renamed WaterStories, the project will explain how the needs of shipping, shipbuilding and residential development caused the Red Hook peninsula to be created from water and swamp. 

We will describe the changing shoreline, early Dutch tidal mills—pertinent to sustainable power generation now—and provide the origin to many street names, describe the history of buildings with a maritime past, reveal harbor connections in unexpected things, and explain contemporary maritime activities on shore and visible from shore. We will tell the story of Red Hook’s greatness: when the port of Brooklyn was the best in the region from the mid-1800’s until the mid 1900’s, its heart was in Red Hook.

What makes this cultural tourism is that our resulting products will include information on local shopping and dining, thereby fulfilling our mission to help revitalize Red Hook.

Our 2009 Visitor Guide  to Red Hook is an interim example of WaterStories.

PortSide was a 2011 winner in a competition by desigNYC to receive pro-bono design services.  PortSide's project is to redesign the outside of the box where the Red Hook Boaters store their kayaks in Valentino Park. The project will add exhibits and educational information. Some of our WaterStories research will be available there. More...

Atlantic Basin 1871

Atlantic Basin 1903

Atlantic Basin 1965