Home CITIES NEW YORK Experience the 2018 Free Open House New York Events

Fort Greene Park, Fort Greene Historic District , Brooklyn The Prison Ship Martyrs Monument that stands today in the center of Fort Greene Park is a 1908 memorial to the 11,000 men and boys who died in horrid conditions on the British Prison Ships during the Revolutionary War. The Monument, which is sometimes referred to as the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, stands in the center of what was once called Fort Putnam, an actual Revolutionary War fort, named after Gernal Putnam. The Monument you see today is actually the third incarnation of this sacred shrine. The story of the horrid Prison Ships and the ghastly conditions suffered by the men and boys imprisoned on them during the Revolutionary War is one of the most disturbing chapters in American history. During the American Revolutionary War, which began in 1775, the British arrested scores of soldiers, sailors, and private citizens on both land and sea. Many were apprehended simply because they would not swear allegiance to the Crown of England. Besides American civilians and resistance fighters, the British captured the crews of foreign ships on the high seas, especially Spanish vessels. The soldiers, sailors and civilians they arrested were deemed by the British to be prisoners of war and were incarcerated. When the British ran out of jail space to house their POWs they began using decommissioned or damaged war ships that were anchored in Wallabout Bay as floating prisons. Life was unbearable on the prison ships, the most notorious of them being the Old Jersey which was called "Hell" by the inhabitants. Disease was rampant, food and water were scarce or nonexistent, and the living conditions were horrendously overcrowded and wretched. If one had money they could purchase food from the many entrepreneurs who rowed up to the boat to sell their wares. Otherwise, the meager rations would consist of sawdust laden bread or watery soup. A great number of the captives died from disease and malnutrition

Experience the 2018 Free Open House New York Events

October 13, 2018

During Open House New York Weekend , many of our historic houses and monuments open their doors for free public visits and tours!

Saturday, October 13, 2018

Open House New York: Free Admission Weekend

at Van Cortlandt House Museum (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx

11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Come for a tour of the house and then explore the beauty that is Van Cortlandt Park in the fall.

Open House New York: Prison Ship Martyrs Monument

at Myrtle Avenue at Washington Park (in Fort Greene Park), Brooklyn

11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Step inside this historic monument and learn about Fort Greene Park history, the Revolutionary War, and the stories of those who perished during the war.

Open House New York: Jeffrey’s Hook Lighthouse

at Little Red Lighthouse (in Fort Washington Park), Manhattan

11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Rediscover the history of this unique landmark. As part of Open House New York, join the Urban Park Rangers on guided tours of Jeffrey’s Hook Lighthouse.

Open House New York

at Visitor Information Booth (in Snug Harbor Cultural Center), Staten Island

11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
In celebration of Open House New York, Snug Harbor is excited to open up the Carl Grillo Glass House and host an Artist Studio Open House, in addition to a free site tour.

Open House New York

at Alice Austen House Museum (in Alice Austen Park), Staten Island

11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Join free, guided tours of the Alice Austen House as part of the Open House New York weekend.

Open House New York: Conference House Park Edition

at Conference House Park Visitor Center (in Conference House Park), Staten Island

12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
As part of the citywide Open House New York Weekend, the historic houses of Conference House Park will be open for self-guided tours.

Open House New York: Fort Tryon Park Cottage and The Heather Garden

at The Cottage (in Fort Tryon Park), Manhattan , Stone Pillars (in Fort Tryon Park), Manhattan

12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Here’s your chance to see inside of the Fort Tryon Park Cottage!

Outdoor World Music Day

at Morris-Jumel Mansion (in Roger Morris Park), Manhattan

12:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
Enjoy a daylong celebration of musical culture and dance featuring Heritage OP, Coco Mama, The Mike Griot Blues Trio, and dance instruction by Ximena Salgado featuring DJ Pito Salsa

Open House New York: Noon Tour

at Dyckman Farmhouse Museum (in Dyckman House Museum), Manhattan

12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Learn about the history of the farmhouse and neighborhood on a docent-lead tour.

Open House New York: The Bowne House

at Bowne House (in Margaret I. Carman Green – Weeping Beech), Queens

12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
A microcosm of 300 years of social, cultural, and political history, Bowne House is the oldest house in Queens. The

Sunday, October 14, 2018