Wyckoff House Museum and Old Stone House participate in Open House New York Weekend

Sat, Oct 15 - Sun, Oct 16  2016

On October 15 and 16, the Wyckoff House Museum and the Old Stone House in Brooklyn participate in the Open House New York Weekend. Open House New York provides broad audiences with unparalleled access to the extraordinary architecture of New York, in order to engage a broad public in a conversation about architecture, public space, and the future of urban life. This year, the Wyckoff Museum and the Old Stone House in Brooklyn will open their doors even further, than they would normally do. These two Old Dutch Houses in New York will take visitors back in time to the Dutch Colonial Era.

Built between 1652 and 1819 by successive descendants, the Wyckoff House was home to eight generations of one family, who farmed the land until 1901. In addition to the history and architecture tour of the main part of the house, the museum will also guide visitors through the attic and root cellar, not normally included in their tours. In the ‘Open House New York: Cellar to Attic Tours’ at the Wyckoff, visitors get a rare opportunity to see the attic of a 17th-century Dutch colonial dwelling, featuring original timbers. Visitors can get a sneak peek at the 18th century root cellar, where staple foods would have been preserved through the winter. Free tours will start at 11 AM, 1PM, and 3PM. 

Old Stone House & Washington Park will also welcome people during the weekend of October 15 and 16 from 10 AM to 4 PM. The house is a modern reconstruction of the 1699 Vechte-Cortelyou House, a 1699 Dutch stone farmhouse. Though the house was reconstructed in 1934 under the supervision of Robert Moses, as a public works project during the New Deal, some unearthed original materials were used in the reconstruction. The current structure sits adjacent to the site of the original house. Washington Park was the site of the largest battle of the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Brooklyn on August 27, 1776. In the late 1800’s, it was also the home field of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Located on the border of Gowanus and Park Slope, at 4th Avenue and Third Street, the Old Stone House & Washington Park is dedicated to creating a strong sense of community through history, environmental education and the arts.that was built as  Old Stone House is now dedicated to creating a strong sense of community through history, environmental education and the arts. The house was designed by Claus Vechte in 1699. The site’s new permanent exhibit is interactive, immersive experience focused on life in 18th century Brooklyn, including the largest battle of the American Revolutionary War. 

Reservations are not required for either of the houses.