A Brief History of DUMBO

Updated July 2021

 

There are a myriad of very unique and interesting things to do in DUMBO, Brooklyn, in any season… but summer is my favourite time to spend here relaxing at Pebble Beach or under the Manhattan Bridge. DUMBO is a hip, historic and scenic waterfront neighbourhood Down Under the Manhattan Brooklyn Overpass directly across from the South Street Seaport area of downtown Manhattan.

DUMBO’s very interesting history within the New York and general American history is well known to historians from Dutch colonial days, the turn of the British, the great stain that is American chattel slavery, abolition, the Industrial Revolution, the World Wars and up till present day.

 

What To Do In A Day in DUMBO, Brooklyn Click To Tweet

DUMBO is so-called because the Brooklyn shore, stretching from DUMBO to Red Hook, was lined with row after row of imposing warehouses, each one housing global commodities of the day like saltpetre, coffee, sugar, cotton, hides and more. Many of the former warehouses are still present in DUMBO today in the form of stores, luxury loft apartments, hotels and commercial properties which are not cheap at all.

During the mid-19th century, Brooklyn’s shoreline saw cargo ships docking from commodity-rich ports across the globe, bringing with them foreign goods and in turn returning home with American commodities like cotton and tobacco.

All this trade needed manpower behind-the-scenes and this back-breaking work was done by immigrant, enslaved, and indentured labour from sun-up to sundown, and their work contributed greatly to the fortunes of the great industrial families of the day and to the NYC and American industry as a whole.

Fast forward two centuries later, DUMBO is thriving and is one of the most visited neighbourhoods of Brooklyn with a myriad of things to do in a full day that will leave you both sated and exhausted.

 

#Things to do in DUMBO: Walk the Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge is an iconic structure and is one of NYC’s many famous landmarks. The Brooklyn Bridge spans the East River and links the Brooklyn waterfront to downtown Manhattan. Walking this bridge is many a tourist’s dream and even for us locals, we enjoy exploring and doing it too!

Reach Brooklyn Bridge via:

• NYC ferry from Wall St./Pier 11 to DUMBO. Walk down Washington Street till you get underneath Brooklyn Bridge and walk up the stairs beneath. Just follow the bridge span and the horde of tourists and you won’t be lost. Trust me.
• From Manhattan, take the F downtown to York Street and walk down York to where it intersects with Washington Street under the bridge. Again, you cannot miss it.
• From Manhattan, take the A or C downtown to High Street. Enter the carriage in front so that you exit up the stairs to your right and follow arrows to Brooklyn Bridge stairs. Again, you cannot miss it as you’ll see the iconic span once you emerge from the subway.

Brooklyn Bridge Fun facts.

• John Roebling was the chief engineer for the bridge and died from lockjaw a month after surveying the site. Blimey! His son, Washington, took over his position.
• To make way, Brooklyn’s first African-American neighbourhood and George Washington’s Presidential mansion were demolished.
• Emily Roebling, Washington Roebling’s wife, was the first person to cross the finished bridge as she oversaw the bridge’s completion upon her husband’s accidental death. What a woman and what a feat for those times!!!
• Completion of the Brooklyn Bridge was May 24, 1883.
• There have been spooky sightings over the century from floating dogs to an alien abduction!
• Over 4,000 people walk the bridge daily and today, you can even bike across to and from Manhattan.

#Things to do in DUMBO: Walk the Manhattan Bridge

The Manhattan Bridge is another of Brooklyn’s famous suspension bridges and is the last of these to have been built in 1909 following the Brooklyn and Williamsburg bridges.

It also spans the East River and links DUMBO to downtown Manhattan, and just like Brooklyn Bridge, it is walkable.

There are many Instagrammable pictures of this bridge including the famous shot from the intersection of Water and Washington Streets and it is one of many things to do in DUMBO.

Another great shot (I think so) is the archway under the bridge where you hear the rumbling of the subway trains above. In summer, the Brooklyn flea market is held here along pop-up local bands, events, and singers.

The beauty of DUMBO and NYC in general is that you can find unique angles and create shots not taken before; you don’t have to copy popular Instagram shots to death. Do yours and own it.

#Things to do in DUMBO: Hop on the NYC Ferry

I love the NYC ferry and its accessibility to many waterfront locations. The DUMBO ferry is at Old Fulton Landing near Ample Hills Creamery and it costs $2.75 per ride. It is permissible to take a bike onboard and this is slightly more at $3.75. The NYC ferry is a breezy change from the subway system but only take it if you’re not in a rush to get anywhere.

 

#Things to do in DUMBO: Brooklyn Bridge Park (Piers 1 – 6)

These are waterfront green spaces that extend past DUMBO further into Brooklyn with gorgeous views of downtown Manhattan across. There are many fun and family-friendly activities to experience at the piers and it is a great way to spend summer weekends.

 

#Things to do in DUMBO: Brooklyn Bridge Park/Pier 1

There is an educational spot for school-age children that contains an Environmental Education Centre with nature events. There are restrooms here so you don’t have to burst a bladder plus it is cool under the bridge in summer among the foliage.

 

Do you know there is a climbing wall at DUMBO??

I’ve done some wall climbing at Governor’s Island and it was much higher than this so I know I can crush this. I just need to get my cardio and core on good terms and we’re good to go! Lol.

Along the waterfront by The Cliffs, the views are lovely and ambience is quiet and secluded. As you walk along the shore towards Pier 1, you see Pebble Beach below and closer views of downtown Manhattan. Pictures don’t do it justice so you just have to see it to experience it.

 

Here, there is Jane’s Carousel for kids of all ages (seen in picture above), lots of eating and shopping to do at Empire Outlets and more exploring along Water Street, Old Dock Road, and Plymouth Street.

 

#Things to do in DUMBO: Brooklyn Bridge Park Piers 2 & 3

Walk down the waterfront past the ferry docks at Pier 1 and just keep walking down, down, down. The East River is on your right and green is on your left.

You'll pass the Granite Steps where you can climb for a vantage view, have a breather or have Instagrammable shots taken. Click To Tweet

Rounding the bend, there are benches available for weary bones and a lawn for plopping down onto. Pier 2 is the blue-roofed structure in the distance and it has a recreation centre with various sports for kids and teens to participate in.

There is a pop-up pool in the area during summer and it’s a welcome respite from 100F temperatures. Walking a bit further, you’ll encounter Pier 3 with vast lawns and seating areas for family picnics and BBQs. There is also a micro sandy beach at Pier 3 enough to wade in or wet your toes. There are many surprises in NYC.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 6

Walk all the way to Pier 6 from DUMBO even though the NYC ferry has a stop there. It’s quite a fair walk on a hot summer’s day but just think of all the calories to be burnt and the cardio you’ll be putting in. Worth it, eh? Lol.

This also is a family-friendly spot with a splash pool for kids, a baseball park, an ice-cream stand and Fornino’s for pizza and burgers. The portions here are large and the food is really good. Good thing because you’ll need the sustenance after all that walking.

From here, either walk back to DUMBO, take the NYC ferry back to DUMBO or Manhattan, or walk out of the park, down the street to the subways at Court Street. The neighbourhood here is absolutely beautiful and quiet with terracotta-coloured brownstones and seasonal foliage.

 

#Things to do in DUMBO: Shopping & Eating

No day in DUMBO is complete without eating and shopping. Click To Tweet

I love the little structure that is the ice cream shop, Ample Hills Creamery, because it shows the juxtaposition of architectural styles between centuries where a 19th century building is in the same vicinity as modern skyscrapers.

Need another ice cream option? Saunter into Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory across from the Fulton Landing for more flavourful options.

Nearby is Shake Shack for iconic burgers and fries and if you’re not a meat eater comme moi, there are chicken burgers. There are also the classic Grimaldi’s Pizza and Juliana’s in the area for a taste of quintessential Brooklyn pizza. Prefer more protein than pizza? Pop into Seamore’s on Water Street for outdoor seating and seafood options.

 

There’s Ignazio’s behind Shake Shack and Cecconi’s within Empire Outlets. In addition, there are the famous River Cafe and Brooklyn Barge on the East River to sup in. At night, their lights come on and they are an amazing sight to behold.

If you’re frugal, you might prefer a packed lunch to have on the many green spaces underneath the bridge or by the waterfront. I love taking a picnic basket full of sandwiches and fruit to munch on and as much as I love ice cream, I get so thirsty afterwards so my non-plastic refillable water bottle is present to quench my thirst plus re-hydrate me in the scorching heat.

Luke’s Lobster is right beneath the Brooklyn Bridge and their lobster and crab rolls are delicious! I may or may not always buy 4 at a go to eat. No apologies.

Peas & Pickles is on Washington Street for organic food and walking on Water Street, you will spy One Girl Cookies, Almondine Bakery and Jacques Torres Chocolates to sate your sweet tooth. Oddfellows Ice Cream Co. is also on Water Street if you want to cycle through all the ice cream options in the area. That could be one of your main things to do in DUMBO.

DUMBO Market on Front Street is available for grocery and picnic items and don’t hesitate to pop into the myriad of bars, bagel shops, and the cute Butler cafe in the area.

DUMBO is also a great spot for independent boutique shopping where there are very few chains of anything (excluding Starbuck’s, of course). There is Scotch & Soda, which isn’t a chain store even though a few of them are in select spots in the city. A favourite window-shopping store of mine is John Fluevog shoes on Water Street with brighly coloured footwear styles and there are a few independent clothing stores in the shadow of the Manhattan Bridge past the Archway. The whole point of DUMBO is adventure and exploration so go seek things out!

Don’t forget to take a reusable bag for all the goodies you’ll buy here as it will save on plastic bag waste and pollution.

 

Empire Outlets

Speaking of, Empire Outlets @ 55 Water St., is a unique outlet in a converted warehouse housing FEED, West Elm, Brooklyn Historical Society, bars and restaurants. In summer, it opens up to the waterfront with outdoor seating for restaurants.

Time Out Market is in Empire Outlets and is full of food stalls like Wayla, Migrant Kitchen, Sugar Hill Creamery, bars, and so much more food for the foodie in you.

 

 

Empire Outlets also has open a Rooftop Terrace on the 5th floor with an extension of Time Out Market, cozy seating and even a stage for live performances. Time Out Market here opens up to the terrace which overlooks Pebble Beach and the Manhattan Bridge.

 

As I take in the sun and views, I hear the familiar strains of a popular Afrobeats tune and the I look frantically around to see where it is coming from and how to get there to groove. I look above and notice another rooftop terrace and I ask security how to get there. Alas, that is Dumbo House and you have to be a member to access and enjoy their amenities. Boo!

#Things to do in DUMBO: Max Family Garden

This is a part of St. Ann’s Warehouse, a former DUMBO warehouse converted to exhibition space and now, a theatre. Within its grounds is a garden that is a backdrop to the hordes of influencers, bridal parties, and photo shoots that flock DUMBO. No criticism on my end because I’m very much a part of this lol.

 

#Things to do in DUMBO: Brooklyn Historical Society

Last but not the least of the lot of what to do in DUMBO is a visit to the Brooklyn Historical Society. It is on the 2nd floor of the Empire Stores and is worth an hour.

I am a core history buff and enjoy learning about places, especially in a diverse city like NYC, where every neighbourhood has a different history and demographic to the next.

The Historical Society tells the history of DUMBO and the Brooklyn waterfront district during the 19th century with major events such as construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, commodities trading, landfilling of the waterfront to create ground for construction, and purchase of enslaved Africans at Wall St. slave market (you didn’t know that existed, did you?) amongst many other stories.

Regarding the slave market, there is an African burial ground that was discovered in downtown Manhattan during the construction of a federal building in 1991. Click To Tweet

It contains the remains of enslaved and free Africans that were not permitted burial within NYC cemeteries during colonial times. Even in death, segregation was still pervasive.

I highly recommend a visit here to learn more about the development of DUMBO and the storage warehouses that are still in the area. Empire Stores was a warehouse and so was St. Ann’s warehouse, as the name implies. A lot of commercial and residential buildings in the area once stored cotton, tobacco, coffee and other commodities.

 

 

Fun Factoid

The Eagle Warehouse is a NYC landmark that once housed the Brooklyn Eagle newspaper, whose editor was Walt Whitman. Soon after, the Eagle Warehouse & Storage company bought the site and commissioned a fireproof warehouse to be built to contain silver and furnishings. I love what you can learn every day in NYC about buildings you pass by all the time without a second thought!

Bear in mind that if you’re spending a day in DUMBO in summer, you need sun protection in the form of a parasol and/or floppy hat. Sunglasses alone won’t help your plight as temperatures soar in a NYC summer.

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I hope you find this comprehensive guide useful for your day trip to DUMBO. Let me know if you’ve been and what you enjoy in the neighbourhood.

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